Lots of gulls over the Countryside Landfill in Lake County, Illinois today, but none in the parking lot when I arrived. It took a lot of work to finally get a sizable group to put down at the Lake County Fairgrounds (proper). Between 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. we tallied 6 Thayer's Gulls (5 ad., 1 3rd cycle), 3 Kumlien's Gulls (ads.) and 1 Great Black-backed Gull (1st cycle). I also spotted a banded 2nd cycle Herring that I was able to record.
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| Thayer's Gull (3rd cycle). Lake County, IL. 16 Feb 2015. |
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| Thayer's Gull (3rd cycle). Lake County, IL. 16 Feb 2015. |
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| Thayer's Gull (3rd cycle with similar aged Herring). Lake County, IL. 16 Feb 2015. |
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Adult Thayer's Gull with all-white tip to p10 and no mirror on p9. Lake County, IL. 25 Feb 2015.
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Adult Thayer's Gull with all-white tip to p10 and no mirror on p9. Lake County, IL. 25 Feb 2015.
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| Adult Thayer's Gull with all-white tip to p10 and no mirror on p9. Lake County, IL. 25 Feb 2015. |
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| An intermediate adult Thayer's/Kumlien's Gull. Lake County, IL. 16 Feb 2015. |
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| One of the smallest and shortest-legged adult Ring-billeds I've seen. Lake County, IL. 16 Feb 2015. |
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| Here's another Herring that one might easily mis-age without an open wing (open wing below). |
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| Herring Gull (2nd cycle type). Lake County, IL. 16 Feb 2015. |
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| Banded Herring Gull (2nd cycle). Lake County, IL. 16 Feb 2015. Band # 1106-27102 |
