Mystery Gull

Gallery: AvianPosted September 5, 201183 views4 comments

I can't quite get an exact ID on this gull. I know that they are in fact very difficult to identify with great certainty, especially those less than fully mature. This image was captured about 6 miles off the coast of Southern Maine a day before Irene hit that part of the Eastern Seaboard. The morning was very hazy and the seas were relatively calm.

Comments appreciated, and thanks for looking.

D3s
300mm f/2.8
TC-20E II
1/1250s @ f/7.1
ISO 400
2/3 EV
Pattern

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 5, 2011 at 2:22 PM

Can't help you with the ID Chuck. I like the position of the bird and the fish. I might have opened up a notch and increased the SS accordingly just to get that little bit extra help stopping this action. Just a suggestion

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on September 5, 2011 at 2:29 PM

As I mentioned over in the Forum, my guess is a juvenile/first winter Glaucous Gull, with my second choice a first year Herring Gull. I spent some time with Olsen and Larsson, my first choice for subadult gull ID, and I'm more persuaded than ever that this is a Glaucous with that white patch on the forehead, but even O & L acknowledge that first year Larids are "exquisitely difficult." The buggers hybridize, too. A very nice photo, regardless of the species, and props for the fish.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 5, 2011 at 5:34 PM

Nice take-off image, Chuck. Good exposure and action. I'm afraid I'm no help on the species.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on September 6, 2011 at 4:37 PM

Nice job getting this shot in hazy low light conditions, good flight shot with the fish and water splashing behind, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments