I spent a few hours on the Calumet River in southeast Chicago this morning. I again failed to relocate the adult type Slaty-backed from a couple of weeks ago. The quick and distant glimpses that I got of it on 12 Feb 2015 were bittersweet, but I'm still hopeful that I'll get some full-frame shots before the end of winter.
We managed to see all of our winter gulls today: Thayer's (4), Kumlien's (1), Glaucous (2), Lesser Black-backed (1), and Great Black-backed (6). These were hard-earned birds in biting-cold conditions: ~20F with a 10-15 mph north wind directed at our faces. Birders who joined me for part of my 3.5 hour session were Andy Sigler, Greg Neise, Wes Serafin, Sue Friscia, and Dave Gruver.
As usual, I'll start with my favorite bird of the day:
 |
| Kumlien's Gull (3rd cycle type). Chicago, IL. 22 Feb 2015. Photo 1 of 4. |
 |
| 2 of 4 |
 |
| 3 of 4 |
 |
| 4 of 4 |
Next up was a purty 1st cycle Thayer's/Kumlien's type, tending towards Thayer's:
 |
| Thayer's Gull (1st cycle). Chicago, IL. 22 Feb 2015. Photo 1 of 3. |
 |
| Showing a fault bar across the subterminal portion of the rectrices. 2 of 3. |
 |
| 3 of 3 |
This adult Thayer's cooperated nicely:
 |
| Thayer's Gull (adult). Chicago, IL. 22 Feb 2015. Photo 1 of 3. |
 |
| 2 of 3 |
 |
| 3 of 3 |
Adult Glaucous Gulls are never dull...
 |
| Glaucous Gull (adult). Chicago, IL. 22 Feb 2015. |
Some black-backeds...
 |
| Great Black-backed (2nd cycle). Chicago, IL. 22 Feb 2015. Photo 1 of 3. |
 |
| 2 of 3 |
 |
| 3 of 3 |
 |
| Great Black-backed Gull (adult). Chicago, IL 22 Feb 2015. Photo 1 of 2. |
 |
| 2 of 2 |
 |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull (likely a sub-adult). Chicago, IL. 22 Feb 2015. Photo 1 of 3. |
 |
| 2 of 3 |
 |
| 3 of 3 |
A sub-adult Bald Eagle was moving overhead just as Greg and Andy arrived...
 |
| GULL DISPERSER |
It's typical for all of the gulls to flush when an eagle comes down the river, and they do! But for a second time in my life, I've now seen another Herring Gull tangle with a Bald Eagle. Today, a 2nd cycle type ascended high into the sky as it tailed a young Bald Eagle and continued to quickly fly at it and escort it higher and higher away. The eagle never pursued the Herring and continued on...I found this behavior to be very interesting.
Speaking of interesting Herrings, here's a gorgeous 3rd cycle type that has retained a good amount of black on the bill:
 |
| Herring Gull (3rd cycle type). Chicago, IL. 22 Feb 2015. Photo 1 of 4. |
 |
| 2 of 4 |
 |
| 3 of 4 |
 |
| 4 of 4 |
Overall, a pretty productive day despite our freezing digits and runny noses...
Winter is passing...but nowhere near vanishing!
