Late-Winter Early-Spring White-winger Rush

Winter gull season is supposed to wind down by mid-March here in Northern Illinois, but we've been fortunate enough to experience a late wave of new birds in Lake County. I spent three consecutive days working the area around the Countryside Landfill last week (25-27 March 2015). Below is a summary of my totals (all adults unless otherwise stated), followed by photo highlights.

Wednesday, 25 March 2015:

• Thayer's Gull (12 - 1st cycle, two 3rd cycles)
• Kumlien's Gull (2)
• Glaucous Gull (2 - 1st cycle, 3rd cycle)
• Great Black-backed Gull (1 - 1st cycle)
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (3)

Great Black-backed Gull (1st cycle)



Glaucous Gull (1st cycle)



Thayer's Gull (1st cycle)



Thayer's Gull (adult)



Thayer's Gull (adult)



Thayer's Gull (adult)



Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult)



Thayer's Gull (adult)



Thayer's Gull (3rd cycle type - photo 1 of 2)



Thayer's Gull (3rd cycle type - photo 2 of 2)

Thursday, 26 March 2015:

• Thayer's Gull (10 - 3rd cycle)
• Kumlien's Gull (2)
• Glaucous Gull (1 - same 1st cycle)
• Great Black-backed Gull (1 - same 1st cycle)
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (2)
• Cook-Inlet Gull (putative Herring x Glaucous-winged adult)

Kumlien's Gull (adult - photo 1 of 3)



Kumlien's Gull (adult - photo 2 of 3)



Kumlien's Gull (adult - photo 3 of 3)



Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult)



Thayer's Gull (adult)



Herring and Thayer's Gulls (adults)



Kumlien's Gull (adult - photo 1 of 2).



Kumlien's Gull (adult - photo 1 of 2).



Thayer's Gull (adult)



Thayer's Gull (adult)



Putative Cook-Inlet Gull (adult - photo 1 of 3).



Putative Cook-Inlet Gull (adult - photo 2 of 3).



Putative Cook-Inlet Gull (adult - photo 3 of 3).

Friday, 27 March 2015:

• Thayer's Gull (12 - 3rd cycle type)
• Kumlien's Gull (4)
• Great Black-backed Gull (1 - same 1st cycle)
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (3)
• Thayer's/Kumlien's intermediate type (2 adults)

Kumlien's Gull (adult - photo 1 of 2).



Kumlien's Gull (adult - photo 2 of 2).



Thayer's Gull (adult)



Thayer's Gull (adult)



Kumlien's Gull (adult - photo 1 of 2).



Kumlien's Gull (adult - photo 1 of 2).



Thayer's Gull (adult)



Thayer's Gull (3rd cycle type - photo 1 of 2).



Thayer's Gull (3rd cycle type - photo 2 of 2).



Kumlien's and Herring Gulls (adult, 3rd cycle type).



Same two individuals above.



LBBG and Herring Gulls (adult).