Deciding where to go gull-watching is no easy task...
Today, I stationed myself on the northernmost pier at Waukegan Harbor in Lake County, Illinois. The pier is covered in icy-snow which has become slushy with the recent warm-up, and so the surface is not slippery and can be walked on with caution. Unfortunately, the south part of the harbor was sectioned off with no access. I can never understand when or why this part of the harbor will be closed.
Highlights here were a 1st cycle Glaucous and GBBG - species I don't often see in Lake County - as well as 3 Thayer's (2 ad. and a first cycle).
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| GBBG (1st cycle). Waukegan, IL. 18 Jan 2015. Photo 1 of 2. |
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| Glaucous Gull (1st cycle). Waukegan, IL. 18 Jan 2015. Photo 1 of 2. |
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| Thayer's Gull (1st cycle). Waukegan, IL. 18 Jan 2015. Photo 1 of 4. |
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| Thayer's (left). The upperparts are very murky and muddy, similar to Glaucous-winged. |
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| Upper neck and nape most likely white due to bleaching and not PA molt. |
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| GBBG (1st cycle) and THGU (1st cycle) among Herrings. |
Historically, Waukegan Harbor has produced some very nice records for Illinois and remains one of my favorite sites to watch gulls on the Illinois lakefront. Now if I could just get there more often!!
