The gathering of gulls at Swan Lake this time of year provides a good opportunity to practice identifying them.
Gulls can still be a challenge, but this seems to be a fairly typical Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri).
Gulls can still be a challenge, but this seems to be a fairly typical Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri).
Gulls can still be a challenge, but this seems to be a fairly typical Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri).
Two similar pictures - slightly different postures. Probably a pale-eyed Thayer's Gull.
Two similar pictures - slightly different postures. Probably a pale-eyed Thayer's Gull.
Trumpeter Swan feeding on grass at Swan Lake.
This gull is a little confusing to me; very pale eye and apparently dark underside of primaries (plus minimal white on primary tips) lead me toward Herring Gull, but orbital ring appears pink rather than yellow and both bill and overall size seems small, suggesting Thayer's Gull.
This gull is a little confusing to me; very pale eye and apparently dark underside of primaries (plus minimal white on primary tips) lead me toward Herring Gull, but orbital ring appears pink rather than yellow and both bill and overall size seems small, suggesting Thayer's Gull.
A fairly typical dark-eyed Thayer's Gull.
Another confusing gull for me. Overall structure relatively small - I'm not great at judging bills, but it doesn't seem particularly large. Underside of primary tips looks fairly pale. All pointing toward Thayer's Gull. On the other hand, very pale yellow eye and orbital ring looking closer to orange than pink suggest Herring Gull.
Another confusing gull for me. Overall structure relatively small - I'm not great at judging bills, but it doesn't seem particularly large. Underside of primary tips looks fairly pale. All pointing toward Thayer's Gull. On the other hand, very pale yellow eye and orbital ring looking closer to orange than pink suggest Herring Gull.
This gull seems to be a fairly typical Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri)