Note iris color, primary projection, bill shape. The bird possesses a fairly clean white head, remarkably free of streaking for either a winter adult Herring or Glaucous Gull. Note the sloping forehead.
A remarkable array of uncommon gulls were present and often approachable within 20 ft. Unlike the heyday of the mid-80's, one had few other gulls to contend with as only 500-600 fed in the immediate vicinity of the open water at any one time. All told, several sets of observers accounted for:
2-3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (1 (or 2) adults, 1 2nd winter
3 Iceland Gulls (2 1st winter, 1 adult)
2 Glaucous Gulls (1 1st winter, and an adult)
3 Thayer's Gull (1 adult, 2 1st winter)*
* On the 11th at this location, Dick & Jean Hoffman located and photographed a second-year Thayer's Gull. It is published on their website. Photographic examples from Ohio of this plumage are few Larry Rosche informs me that photographic examples have appeared twice in The Cleveland Bird Calendar, as recently as a bird at Fairport Harbor 22 Feb. 1998. I mention this because it is not something one will come across all to often in photographic guides, even those devoted to gulls or seabirds.
1. Is this bird within the range of variation of Glaucous Gull? Apparently YES.
Field observation in direct comparison with Herring Gulls indicated a bird of medium proportions and height for a Herring Gull type Larus. Bill structure is well within the bulk of a Herring Gull. All the while this bird walked among Herring Gulls, it never stood taller - completely outside my experience for a Glaucous Gull. Therefore, the white wing tips led to my field (incorrect) suggestion of a hybrid origin, namely Glaucous X Herring Gull. However, enough range in size that this could still be a Glaucous Gull. If so, not only would it be very small for the species, it would be the darkest individual I have seen (n=50 adults) as the mantle is only a shade lighter than a Herring Gull and a match for an adult Iceland Gull nearby (see below).
Addenda. Larry Rosche and John Pogacnik clearly state this individual is well within the norm for an adult Glaucous Gull. In the literature I see the species expresses some of the greatest ranges in size dimorphism amongst members of the genus Larus. This is simply a small Glaucous Gull.
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Click here for an enlarged view Note iris color, primary projection, bill shape. The bird possesses a fairly clean white head, remarkably free of streaking for either a winter adult Herring or Glaucous Gull. Note the sloping forehead. |
2.Here is a nearby adult Iceland Gull shot within an hour of the above image (almost in the exact same spot as the above shot), under the same environmental conditions, same exposure settings, using the same film (Fuji superia print ISO 400), processed at the same time. Note the primary projection in this profile shot. Where the above bird has a bright yellow eye, the Iceland has dark flecks with the yellow. The Iceland bill is of finer build, and is a lemon/straw yellow color with a diminished red spot comparatively. Note the rich color of the bill of the first bird. Note the more rounded head shape in this bird.
Click on the image for a series of close-ups
3. Another interesting gull: Is this a pale Thayer's Gull or a dark Iceland? As I have already received ample expert opinion, I will reveal the rest of the images. Larry Rosche and John Pogacnik both concur this is an Iceland Gull.
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The primary projection, rounded head, diminutive features, especially the bill all fit within the norm of an Iceland. Compare overall size with the Herring Gull below. 
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What is interesting about this Iceland Gull is the presence of a fairly strong tail band. 
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A tail band occurs in many Iceland Gulls. Again while alluded to in the literature, I have a hard time finding photographic examples of such birds in flight. To the extent seen here, I have not seen illustrated before. Only the basal 5th of the outermost 5 rectrices are marbled.
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What I'd like gull experts to focus on is that this tail band is A) darker than the rest of the bird, B) involves the entire tail (not merely the outer half of the rectrices), and C) on closer inspection does not reveal any fine vermiculations, etc. In the few instances when banded tails are mentioned in regard to Iceland Gulls, the tail band is either expected to be diminished, the same color as the rest of the bird, or finely marbled.
A recent publication . . .
"Hybridization and changes in the distribution of Iceland gulls (Larus glaucoides/kumlieni/thayeri)" published in the J. Zool., Lond. (2000) 252: 517-530 by The Zoological Society of London in the United Kingdom. The authors are D.N. Weir (deceased 15 August 2000), A.C. Kitchener and R.Y. McGowan.
4.Here is a typical 1st winter Thayer's Gull from the above location; 28 January 2001.
Photo courtesy John Pogacnik : Copyright 2000. All Rights Reserved
5.Here is an adult Thayer's Gull from the above location; 28 January 2001
Photo courtesy John Pogacnik : Copyright 2000. All Rights Reserved
6. Here is a first winter Glaucous Gull from the above location; 28 January 2001.
Photo courtesy John Pogacnik : Copyright 2000. All Rights Reserved