[Birdnet] Fw: Western Gull at Bear River MBR (this ones credible!)

[Tim Avery]

I received this through my site last night.  Sounds like a very credible, 
summer report of a WESTERN GULL for Utah.

Cheers,

Tim

----- Original Message ----- 

 Jim Pawlicki here from NYS.  Not sure if you heard my name out on the 
listserves and whatnot, but right now I\'m working out of Brigham City, 
Utah.  I just want to let you know that while at the Bear River NWR today 
(Monday July 8, 2008), two other observers and I had a near-adult (likely 
fourth summer) WESTERN GULL along the auto tour route at the refuge.  I have 
diagnostic photos which show the wing pattern and whatnot, so its a solid ID 
even tho I previously have had zero experience with the species and it was 
actually a lifer.  The best directions I can give is that when you take bird 
refuge rd. all the way to the start of the auto tour loop, take the loop 
going left (or SW I believe) instead of following the sign and going over 
the channel bridges to the right.  Continue on the loop paralleling the 
canal for 2-3 miles (I know this is vauge, but its really the best I can do 
right now) till you reach a spot where there is a small flow channel 
underneat the road not far before the loop road makes a hard right (or 
westerly) turn.  There were 8-10 California Gulls at the spot fishing at the 
outflow channel and the bird was amongst the ad. California Gulls.  We were 
driving by and I called it out upon seeing the dark mantle, bulk,and bright 
pink legs.  Standing it looked like an immaculate adult with a clean white 
head, solid dark mantle, and blackish primaries although the primaries (esp. 
outers) were heavily worn.  When it took off though, I could see some dark 
mottling forming a weak blackish sub-terminal band near the tip of the tail 
likely suggest that it was in its first or second summer as an adult and not 
a full adult.  Soon as I called it, one of the people I was with who is an 
experienced birder from California saw it right of way and agreed with the 
ID.  I tried snapping a few shots in horrible light from the truck and then 
hopped out and got some better ones (including in-flight) before the bird 
became very skittish of my presence (I took this as unusual esp. since the 
California Gulls could care less that I was walking around close to where 
they were foraging) and then took off to the east--and unfortunately it did 
not appear likely to be returning anytime soon as I watched it continue on 
far off into the distance.  From what I\'ve read, I guess this is only the 
second state record from the 3W bird you and Neuman found last winter near 
Salt Lake.  As soon as I get on a laptop and upload some photos I\'ll send 
them to you which will likely be tomorrow--right now I\'m sending you this 
from a hotel computer.

Jim