Wake Co., NC landfill gulls 2007

On Saturday 20 Jan 2007, Derb Carter and I birded the Wake Co., NC landfill for gulls. While the sights, sounds, & smells were impressive, we did not find as many gulls as we expected. The gull flocks spent much of the time in the air, rather than settled on the ground. Interesting were several Fish Crows calling the whole 3 hours we were there. We roughly estimate the following numbers:

Ring-billed Gull ~ 5000
Herring Gull ~150
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2-3
Great Black-backed Gull 1-2
Probable Lesser Black-backed x Herring Gull hybrid 1

	Wake Co., NC 20 Jan 2007
	Wake Co., NC 20 Jan 2007
	Wake Co., NC 20 Jan 2007
	Wake Co., NC 20 Jan 2007

Adult Ring-billed Gull

Wake Co., NC
20 Jan 2007

This 1st winter Herring Gull had a mangled leg and wing, but still managed to fly around fine.

Wake Co., NC
20 Jan 2007

This bird really caught our eye as being unusually pale for the average Herring Gull and we studied it for the possibility of Thayer's. After studying the books and several days of feedback on these photos from various folks around the internet, the general consensus is that it just a very pale Herring Gull.

Wake Co., NC
20 Jan 2007

	The outer primaries are pale but not as pale white as Thayer's should be. Wake Co., NC 20 Jan 2007
	The undertail of Thayer's should be much whiter. Wake Co., NC 20 Jan 2007
	The bill has a pinkish base whereas first winter Thayer's should be all black. Wake Co., NC 20 Jan 2007
	Wake Co., NC 20 Jan 2007
	On the ground, the head structure appeared smaller and rounder (less block-headed) than nearby Herrings. The bill was smallish but not dainty. Wake Co., NC 20 Jan 2007
	With Ring-billed Gulls. Wake Co., NC 20 Jan 2007

	Wake Co., NC 20 Jan 2007
	Wake Co., NC 20 Jan 2007

Click here to see the Wake Co., NC landfill gulls from January 2005

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Created on ... Jan 16, 2007 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com