"Common" MEW GULL, West Haven

A brief tour of the West Haven/Woodmont shoreline in search of gulls was extended for several hours after finding this adult "Common" Mew Gull (L. c. canus, the European form) at Bradley Point in West Haven, CT. I was primarily in search of Little Gull today, planning on getting home for the start of the 12:30 NCAA basketball games. A stop at the beach/flats at Bradley Point didn't reveal any Boneys, but there were plenty of Ring-bills. Five minutes into the scan I was lucky enough to encounter this bird while it had its bill out. At times it was very cooperative, while preening and showing its bill. For extended periods, though, it would tuck away to sleep, at which time it was nearly impossible to pick out among the Ringers if you didn't know it was there. The bird's mantle was a touch darker than RBGU, but not by much, so it could easily be overlooked while at rest.

 
 
Dark iris, slim bill with a faint subterminal markings on a rounded head, slightly darker upperparts than adjacent RBGUs.


 
Large mirrors on p10 and p9. P8 is extensively black with no mirror. P4 without black markings.


 
Nice profile shot between two Ringers.


 
Rather clean white head, with some dark speckling present on the forehead.



 
Preening bird, with its left wing raised.

 
The Common Gull is the only sitting bird with its body facing right. Note the slightly smaller size and darker mantle.

Well this one felt good. We were due in CT. I think the last (only?) one was in the 70s. This should constitute the first photographed record for CT and the first one identified to subspecies. 

 PS - Not bad for my least favorite time of year :) 

 - Nick

Comments

  1. rmharveyMarch 20, 2009 at 8:11 PM

    Thanks for that call, Nick! 8-)

    There was a not-excepted report from January 1991; see http://ctbirding.org/sixth_arcc_report.htm#91-18

    Zeranski & Baptist refer to a "well described" but not photographed adult from November 4-7 1973. They also mention two from November and December 1965.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 20, 2009 at 9:07 PM

    Thanks Nick for looking through these awful gulls so lazy land birders like me don't have to ;)

    Nice one - Luke

    ReplyDelete
  3. EdwardMarch 21, 2009 at 12:03 PM

    Congrats! Keep up the good work! What's next?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Scott KruitboschMarch 21, 2009 at 8:58 PM

    Yawn indeed, Nick! Really, congrats on it, great work. I echo Luke's sentiments. Nice job on the reverse jinx, too. You should talk about the lack of rarities if things are off to a slow start in June.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nick BonomoMarch 30, 2009 at 7:00 PM

    Shows what I know. My apologies to the month of March. I doubted you, but you delivered.

    ReplyDelete
  6. LorettaSeptember 30, 2009 at 1:19 PM

    Great article..You should get in touch with the bizymoms West-haven community to feature these on their page. It’s free and the moms will love it

    ReplyDelete

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