Greg Neise and I recently spent a day birding with Jim Pawlicki on the American side of the Niagara River. It was a fun day of watching gulls, including this gorgeous adult California Gull:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3CpobkPD8AMyte-bo8Dd5pYqTDMfUnYKglAC_IVitYQoUwGiZmCVW56r0nkxpBvkw7nxUyDN2ZCU5WPwjjvOF99p1YdzDStErzXCO49Q371Z6aLUO275RcOcyKPAHr13RNpzmKOsPoj7/s640/DSC_0110.JPG) |
CAGU. Devil's Hole SP, NY; 28 December 2012. |
We also got great looks at this individual:
This bird's identity had been questioned by several observers, causing brief confusion. This was mainly because it was observed at a distance in flight, giving the impression of a Slaty-backed.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_q1UaKznNywho9XJG_jGBz5z148ipVC1hhE9xMCVN9Dhb6YLaQQt8DmfNPTszM5gToywlZeV35tVuLbl2gz4JXOa4Jnte1uNCJVklWHtyfAjF_lanWu14fIZZ3dyVcRMvfy6_Vi1x9sHF/s640/DSC_0359.JPG) |
In its childish, drunkin' state. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0adHsaKAjMeQqWrWrJtdZxEHfUcAP6BR0W7DsIIEpk_bVQ2X2FYTwsX2EQ-A7PNqWkE8B8_YEpI9h4uTCnbQTKg1QKDRT00E9XqyHSlj7O06350gayVzioyT9DPAWyZLI8VCNBVKeEK3l/s640/DSC_0328.JPG) |
Seen from behind, with a 1st cycle Herring Gull (facing the observer). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhyphenhyphenIPD6BrlsvXvOMd012MMB97yf8t_9BRCAGFrF7UCOYIrMJd8Qm5T5fh4dDhnsV31Canoq1fFTMDAD2LJzst3AMCz0pPHS1yHa04ko7Dbd8bz8bhKpn9sfxPVaQuFGMU4_adNLzWGES5/s640/DSC_0302.JPG) |
We finally came to the consensus that this is a juvenile Thayer's Gull, a good bird for the Niagara region. |
There was also this NE American Herring:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgemX8sc1xceUBcmMqJCYCxhC9DP6S1jwgiurKaq-DfYAPW4ZmHYnSuZpeHNNKpXTlM2sxp-ADszcrBy16tKLQxc0p3mI6C_HagmGXAx4jigjESOypJFgaJEAKBoGXzSB9KZKRyfayrLyU/s640/DSC_0150.JPG) |
The extensive white tip to P10 thayeri-like pattern on P9 is suggestive of the so-called Newfoundland population. |
And a couple more Kumlien's:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRCT-E_G1FP6S_0Bvf-tqOjL5vMzCcYk544oTrScU_X6aCdRt9P8QGdppziljoYYDtVJ2YffVU1G2NvjZYf5JDTBxHHqdboNEm5j8s6yTsSdHGfaNhGyXoMbSrtmh8-IwV806XVYyy4zO/s640/DSC_0395.JPG) |
Adult Kumlien's Gull with Herrings. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yCzkUsMgh_nStjJwbvWYzysrIeK5NCviyQxdrZqPGfVqald9dD8zy9niYPSbGP4BFztMGT4Mn8UojRkPfm1D81E2btPZFOOIE3UjHFj3q8v7pZs5XB7yPeJjU47DGsi5bXtcUb_A8Vi9/s640/DSC_0256.JPG) |
2nd cycle Kumlien's Gull. |
And some miscellaneous shots:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizh5g6H4gX7SCB5c_jT8UPXs2cyKmfpeAs0KvaAYtdeilIPMGzrCA7TQHQeQCQsuPz2WRKQaL-PapNBPSs1hiDIHk7AmFEByF7AOsiZTM-xz8ei17lF6XpB-UGoLOe5t_32nCiW5LVnV2_/s640/DSC_0038.JPG) |
American Herring Summit! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4f9VrjhL-8Bdd8tQQncSdyeQRhV9KEYPVfw-YguHTt1TsQVOazf_3QFI3spbmO8r1kZvxBxd82JAKzOaqCwJRO_gP2pMheqKU1U_vnE6l0Uahdu9RNnf1TCKkt9dBv7lrPjCWSN9mnmx/s640/DSC_0197.JPG) |
A "pink" Ring-billed with extra bright bare parts. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0v22xOgTPfyo_8vk85gM2L-NUjMLAZg937TvXsZFMFLCw4GBS7db449vFB-yXxkDA2ZGV8gHe4tTpzzOvjmeJdGlzXePRylnT0bHCyJ6uUkAgafQh6DjnoXIjXXoHP5GoQIvwAqtHaaq/s640/DSC_0435.JPG) |
GBBG (left), LBBG (right). |
Jim introduced us to his local passerines that come right in to the sound of his whistle:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpuXLYGsM7vc8DuBFJ30QTEoZyNqTS15dhBh8UMTWP_qdm2CZFLhxgFl8IKOIi1NQZkCSRo1sk0VnZTbh-9_vUt-JCO-agaJpKOyvHzLyzt5ZohogHZIj98hr6qFeCuT_wRzpr6JotUEh/s640/DSC_0469.JPG) |
Greg releasing his powers into this Tufted Titmouse. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTebxboGVfyOFznpy1oATFpa1fuSeML7Jk-hDQRJs5OyhyphenhyphenqIiTWgzPEXoH_EXKKz5CoTsYVYiNPOYfe3lieGxXZDycCSoC6_G4t9QUK_ipXaX8SL45Rr0f6r35kI-5BcDlCZo5uKZP4yM-/s640/DSC_0024.JPG) |
The Robert Moses Hydroelectric Power Station. This is part of what attracts so many gulls! |
And finally, this young Red-tailed came right for my head with its landing gear (talons) extended:
Evidently, it thought my trooper hat was a rabbit or squirrel. If it wasn't for Jim's last second warning and me flinching, it probably would've put a "little" scratch on me. Now mind you, our bodies were concealed behind a brick wall and all this bird can see from the other side of the river was our heads. Here's the famous hat: