[Birdnet] Thayer's or Glaucous-winged Gull, Stilt Sanpiper in Logan

[Ryan O'Donnell]

I birded Sue's Ponds (also known as the Logan River Wetlands, just west
of the Logan Landfill) today.  I found a large first-winter gull with
pale wingtips that matched the overall color of the bird.  I spent quite
a while in the field studying this bird and I'm still conflicted whether
it is a pale THAYER'S GULL or a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL.  I took a bunch of
photos: here are links to a few of them.  The pattern in the primaries
shown in photo 3 seems to indicate Thayer's but looks completely
different in photos 7 and 8 taken a few seconds later, looking much more
like Glaucous-winged.  I'd love to hear any opinions on the identity of
this bird.
 
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/GULL1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/GULL2.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/GULL3.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/GULL4.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/GULL5.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/GULL6.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/GULL7.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/GULL8.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/GULL9.jpg
 
Other highlights from the ponds included a flyover of 28 TUNDRA SWANS
(my first of the fal) and a single STILT SANDPIPER mixed in with ninety
Long-billed Dowitchers and eight PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.
 
Good birding,
Ryan
 
Ryan P. O'Donnell
Department of Biology and the Ecology Center
Utah State University
5305 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-5305
 
http://200birds.blogspot.com