I spent a few hours gull-watching along the Calumet River on Chicago's far southeast side this morning. A little patience was rewarded with an adult Nelson's Gull (Glaucous x Herring hybrid).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWw2Vbuhiy0LQHebvL42_gbYs7vqE1WPRoHoyMOW9Q-4nJ75-y0wrRX9b-zfoTRCG0i_Xn5a_1Qo4eR_ajesOm6R3g-x5wRFqwRNkMbsYb05TYyHSh7PKJBGK22IFVfmZjID3WXxhJRnyE/s1600/DSC_7168.JPG) |
Nelson's Gull (adult). Chicago, IL. 08 Feb 2015. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvIKSvTTHHhipMRrsPMLxvRMjl8QGfBFfRcvKplZ-c1P-AK3pO1ZGqqUgXGy309eaYCXvcRYmXbttzFx7I-iqNdd6TRES3Ak4E3Sr7MfYOO5zq9ybVHFjUQDSn-bvf4yQcChj7y0MORZ4/s1600/DSC_7207.JPG) |
Photo slightly underexposed, but still noticeably bigger and paler than the Herrings seen here. |
Besides being larger and paler than all of the surrounding Herrings, the wing projection is short like Glaucous. The wingtips are colored with a diluted dark gray and show limited pigmentation that's restricted to the outer webs of the outer 5 primaries.
Another exciting sighting for the day was this ever-wandering 2nd cycle Kumlien's that I've now seen three times this season at three different sites (click
here to read more about this distinctive bird):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietNfdaNf6BqWb7AZDWgTfLSTOwuzKr72HRkmlCY9zoVVX5evzi34eTse6_UWilPvk4ItT55nOwnuGVci_RbI4Y_0tFjTrEg3Lve83c8mxbEbPL0VunxC5wjos0E0VxU_D9NpP2Py8m_DZ/s1600/DSC_6810.JPG) |
Kumlien's Gull (2nd cycle). First seen at the Lake County Fairgrounds on 23 December, then at the Museum Campus on 25 December 2014. Chicago, IL. 08 Feb 2015. |
Beside the Nelson's and Kumlien's, I recorded every age of Great Black-backed today, along with a 2nd cycle Glaucous, 2nd cycle LBBG and an adult Thayer's. Twice, gulling was interrupted by a Red-tailed Hawk and then subsequently by a 2nd winter Bald Eagle. Interestingly, a few Herrings began circling around the Bald Eagle and escorted it down the river - something I've never seen.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdNu8Ny33ms5yjak6_3xu_qPxOCXR7qeBFKI3W_tX0ZONAPvWst9kNEouxI88Sg0y4mVbHmoYOtvhjE6T5ucRiiQQjQDtEW5lLg0an-OduvkJfw1RCjD-krDj1RqVYBB4qhYYXKMSie6M/s1600/DSC_6927.JPG) |
Great Black-backed Gull (1st cycle). Chicago, IL. 08 Feb 2015. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNDw1YEIn_vMJLwEhCssYM0UFzF-X7eO8HQRRD1LYwmBuj-_3yuwG_6MfHmP1rIKf9AOimcqdPmQ5OtCznnEXE_I8FlvjNXIjB3FpbAGPkXGR1RAt-rpAfMKJFf1ao1bHIw8tPAf1xN02/s1600/DSC_6730.JPG) |
Great Black-backed Gull (2nd cycle). Chicago, IL. 08 Feb 2015. |
6 days until Gull Frolic 2015!!!