This morning I birdwatched at Canal Park. Among the many HERRING GULLS was one adult THAYER'S GULL, one NELSON'S GULL (Herring x Glaucous hybrid), and one RING-BILLED GULL. Many COMMON GOLDENEYES were observed this morning as well. Below are my favorite recent photos of gulls: Thayer's Gull: http://www.pbase.com/image/130754143 http://www.pbase.com/image/130753704 http://www.pbase.com/image/130753705 http://www.pbase.com/image/130753706 http://www.pbase.com/image/130753707 http://www.pbase.com/image/130753709 Herring Gull: http://www.pbase.com/image/130753689 http://www.pbase.com/image/130753691 http://www.pbase.com/image/130753699 http://www.pbase.com/image/130753692 http://www.pbase.com/image/130753692 Nelson's Gull: http://www.pbase.com/image/130753700 http://www.pbase.com/image/130753701 http://www.pbase.com/image/130753702 Ring-billed Gull (only one seen this morning): http://www.pbase.com/image/130753703 On the adult Thayer's Gulls, note the tongue extensions on the wing. The tongues are the sections of gray that "push into" the black primaries. Herring Gulls have much more black throughout the ends of the wings (very black primaries), whereas the amount of black on adult Thayer's Gulls primaries is somewhat limited due to the gray tongues taking place of the black coloration. Also, adult Thayer's Gulls have considerable tongue tips (the white section of the tongues that go into the black). The other feature that gives adult Thayer's Gulls a very pale-wing-ended appearance are the mirrors (white inset sections of the primaries). Adult Thayer's Gulls show an isolated large white mirror on the outermost primary, and typically have a bulging, but connected mirror on the P9 (2nd-outermost primary). Overall adult Thayer's Gulls, even when viewed with the naked eye, have a rounder/paler-winged appearance due to the amount of white at the end of the wing. Herring Gulls, with the large amount of black throughout the primaries, show very well-defined and elongated-looking wing ends. Thayer's Gulls also tend to show a slightly more round-headed appearance when viewed in nearby comparison to the slightly more blocky-headed Herring Gull. Just wanted to throw some cool gull tidbits out there! I just love the high contrast of adult Thayer's Gulls. They are so striking! When seen next to an adult Herring Gull (like in the first Thayer's Gull photo link), the adult Thayer's Gulls have a slightly darker gray mantle (backside), usually a dark eye, and a bright yellow bill. I hope you enjoy the photos of these cool birds. Good birdwatching, Erik Bruhnke Duluth, MN NATURALLY AVIAN - Bird Photography and Guided Bird Hikes www.pbase.com/birdfedr [log in to unmask] ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html