First Weekend of March: Thayer's and Kumlien's

I spent a good amount of time at the Lake County Fairgrounds this past weekend. I had some hope the Slaty-backed would reappear, but alas, not so (MIA since last Sunday when Nolan Lameka and Bruce Heimer photographed it). Instead, some 18 different Thayer's and 7 Kumlien's Gulls were to be recorded between Saturday and Sunday. I also had a nice assortment of adult and adult-like Lesser Black-backeds, and an awesome variety of American Herring Gulls to sort through.

Saturday, 01 March 2014. Lake County Fairgrounds.

Female-type Thayer's.

Thayer's with a bill I associate with Kumlien's.

Perhaps a young adult Thayer's with heavy head streaking and black smudge on red gonys spot.

Not a typical bill pattern for Thayer's, but everything else consistent for that species.

Same individual above.

3rd cycle Thayer's Gull (photo 1 of 4).

 

2nd cycle Thayer's.

Retarded 2nd cycle Thayer's (photo 1 of 2)

See separate post on ageing this individual which has some 1st cycle-like features.

3rd cycle Kumlien's Iceland Gull

Click here for Sunday's birds: 02 March 2014