Northern gulls continue to trickle in on southern Lake Michigan with continued sightings of Lesser Black-backeds and Thayer's Gulls in the second half of October.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlKM8Mr2lmqOPnKtcff_lNJJQIZ41MSZxs1xaUYBOCmnOsYI-gu6RgMEUec_gbWuqgFep5RUFtmHBWo5bl45trAEago1fvAg5C4_Egf0UxO8vXHXtvnlRvcQd9BGgJJ0v88wC-66E6Ct4/s1600/DSC_4194.JPG) |
Lesser Black-backed (4th cycle type). New Buffalo, Michigan. 25 October 2014. |
From the open wing photo, it appears the two outer primaries and visible secondaries are retained 3rd generation feathers, hence this bird would be undergoing its 4th prebasic molt:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEuQlrfFgLLOYHPqjEgy2r1MZJYUqplTntcHBXeoFrkCrYrR9wgV810TwbjwLnEAnFiNkUF-RP7tmRFFOu7OrHrps9i30jrUM35gs3evsRf0gK5AlvB210OIJSJnugxQxASXS6N5_s_T_/s1600/DSC_4284.JPG) |
P1-P8 are 4th Basic. Renewal of secondaries far from complete. |
I had very brief looks at this 1st cycle Thayer's Gull before it picked up and flew out on the lake:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuJcg0tyeP8YeqsiwfLtGeNCZ6_kR6cSBo4pL-m5Plkj0Tgj14LkS_3uZ7WsK71HDRivjAT1O_ngOBC0-LmBCUwvj4jUqEaV9iTlnC0kYoShkjsIQohnrJwG0BZgd-XxwJtaTV2tW8cpv/s1600/DSC_3708.JPG) |
Thayer's Gull (juvenile). New Buffalo, Michigan. 25 October 2014. |
Any day I'm able to find a banded gull - and actually record the entire nine-digit sequence - is a success! Now for today's highlight:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GrXRn0y5ul-hgJvshNshJTEyQM2WrpzwZF_9sEL65LgKWzeOQ6-3qjDmKsw9cibqFWot7I-T4WNHSRnWPmcQLALo6am6eMG_ffSmQvaYasnXsP-zw8E8066fut_VTs5bIhphJQnUfUl1/s1600/DSC_4853.JPG) |
American Herring Gull (adult). New Buffalo, Michigan. 25 October 2014. Band #1106-15613. |
It was banded as a chick while too young to fly (14 June 2010) on Chamber Island in Wisconsin.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VBv8rmGE1uKvamDnZ6S9vvaqn2_Lye3oeKkQBs8hw7zR_EuwMw1z5z_eVvwnbmOB0zVgqa5jwGBZvlG56MODM-DUpv2F0vjUx5tagIIRRXFo1c5slXBPYWCKo2lM1crcZpeeo7-DjobJ/s1600/Fullscreen+capture+10262014+15333+AM.jpg) |
The red pin is Chamber Island in far north Green Bay, Wisconsin (just a rock's throw from Michigan waters along the south-central border of the UP). |
There's no doubt in my mind that many of the Herrings that breed on the small islands in Door County, Wisconsin, migrate south to New Buffalo, Michigan.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5DMnohAanrkyScihVjeNukWKGrf1R51BDi8ip7XbbCH_xC63_OW6F2jold0gcS4V7KYqndXNNvq1R1rPA5sNei-oxZCbvnLVR4fhns6VZFTxDsd3ocIkmSUgwwy2kRUsiHBhrJkcBsEZ/s1600/herg+front+shot.jpg) |
Bill deeply tinged with pink. Is this a reliable mark that suggests a "young" adult Herring? Do older adults show this? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLKUzNyf9KtaiE0aIRha6gMcOqleCTtPfBhvzlC5QNcPgOQ7FQmSBjtCS7BOvY8QUcbKHpVGAPXVU32afL3Tp75nLCCQFpbRxLDUFikAAzpZ8Vr3FtWvUwmoF0oy-OwoiJgypQ4haku3p/s1600/DSC_4913.JPG) |
P9 two-thirds grown (no mirror). P10 one-third grown (relatively small mirror). Note the "fake" mirror at the base of P9. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EfN1K46CDSWQjTAjR6fA5EJQOVKgTRp2U-VaTDuCo8sZSfsPrmx_77CGojYepnItAutLZ6HVmhX3gKIs1Bs8VO1IXm7vKnCOO9Vz6hpG4DdYTUFNwW5Da1PAvCV6mrpzBbFHmfgTNzVV/s1600/herg+open+wing.jpg) |
No sub-adult markings on primary coverts, alula or tail. P5 with full subterminal band. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCEyBWUZpWZiNI0Nn0lXb5y8tPcnMwh5cHGASUHaYYTCk2MzEQzL-Nk5XN2tIucCu7_qBPUkfW6VpByLv7zeF-tmseQHQo0hPoFqaDR4FilWQbrjHP7y4Mt99sGiR7wywwKkmn5lvCp9i/s1600/DSC_4875.JPG) |
Banded Herring (left). 4th cycle type LBBG and adult type Herring (right). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5o_YMdjsmyprW-elDyBmk5O0ew92wxxvRwCTjsubhPdWY5JMl5TRYj-fzro2_OEewCpAVwOvN6hcg2NmsaeSIsp3xfSO7wdC0ecTahrq9z3fVCx-2KegaNdWuws6-v-iKj5B1ckS3uUD/s1600/herg+in+flight.jpg) |
P5-P7 with insignificant white tongue tips. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWzhnbJzZb1u112yEKAbtTh72gQuGmnduYcLwbkzIBloQwRgX8O23RtCFFtUecxCNIq8nofivek7KrPuw2z4XxjsmTsZlB3wALmVr8AGQeXtkG-udR1938bumJ-4uLJBAhcP3fhz8lO84/s1600/DSC_4941.JPG) |
Of course the lighting on the water was harsh. This was the best upperwing shot I could manage. |
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