The following series of photos were taken at the Carlyle Lake spillway on Saturday, December 26, 2009. This European Herring Gull had been present since at least Sunday, December 20, 2009, when it was photographed by Bill Rudden. The tail pattern is unlike any typical L. a. smithsonianus and matches better with the European group, L. a. argentatus/argenteus or the East Asian, L. a. vegae. Lighting conditions were quite good with the early morning sun producing a rather warm tone to many of the photos. The last two shots were taken later in the day and are darker because of the overcast. tail patterns of immature American Herring Gulls
1.1) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 7:55 a.m. CST. On the water the bird appears quite normal.
1.2) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 7:57 a.m. CST. In flight, the greater, median and lesser coverts produce a uniform pattern of brown with white notching. P10- P5 form a dark trailing edge on the underwing.
1.3) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 7:57 a.m. CST. Most striking are the bases to the rectrices which are barred black-and-white and collectively produce a relatively narrow distal tail band. The upper-tail coverts are white and notched with brown and the pattern blends well with the mantle thus producing very little contrast. The tips to the inner webs of the inner primaries are pale.
1.4) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 7:57 a.m. CST. In good light the bird is quite frosty to the waterline. From what can be seen, the scapulars and tertials are broadly notched with white and with the dark centers producing an oak-leaf pattern. The primaries are dark brown and lack obvious pale tips. The base of the bill is dull-flesh and a bit smeared with dark along the cutting edges.
1.5) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 7:58 a.m. CST. Much as above with perhaps a better view of the scapulars.
1.6) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 7:58 a.m. CST. In full profile, the primaries can be counted with P7-P10 extending past the tip of the tail.
1.7) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 7:58 a.m. CST. R6 reveals three dark bars and two small basal dots reaching the outer edge. Notching on the outer webs of the greater coverts diminishes from four rows of white spots to one narrow white bar on the outer three feathers. The tips to the inner webs of the inner primaries are pale.
1.8) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 7:58 a.m. CST. This shot reveals a good view of the tertials as well as the contrast between the black barring of the rectrices with the brown spotting of the upper-tail coverts.
1.9) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 7:58 a.m. CST.. The lower mantle is quite pale and uniformly patterned matching the median coverts and upper-tail coverts.
1.10) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 7:58 a.m. CST. R3 on the right side of the tail is torn and at times gets hung-up under R2. In the field this appears as if the bird has lost a tail feather. The tips of the tail are becoming worn with the thin white edging still evident on only a few of the feathers. Another good view of the greater coverts and inner primaries.
1.11) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 7:59 a.m. CST. From below, the spread wing is quite pale with the tips of the primaries forming a dark trailing edge. The color of the underparts changes dramatically with the lighting and in this shot the darkest areas are along flanks and the palest areas are on the upper breast and lower vent.
1.12) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 7:59 a.m. CST. Another good view of the underparts showing little contrast between the face, breast, and lower vent. Compare the breast color in this photo to 1.4 and 1.10. The lighting produces a wide range of contrasts.
1.13) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 8:00 a.m. CST. The spread wing is in good view. P7 is wrapped around P6 on the right wing and reveals the pattern of the entire inner and outer webs.
1.14) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 8:11 a.m. CST. Here is another good shot of the upperparts with the light producing tones that are more gray than in the other photos. The upper-tail coverts, mantle and wing coverts produce a frosty and checkered look.
1.15) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 10:11 a.m. CST. After a two hour absence the gull returned to the spillway for a few minutes. The lighting conditions have changed dramatically as it is now overcast and the warm brown tones of the early morning sun are replaced with cold gray. Most evident is the contrast between the greater underwing coverts with the median and lesser underwing coverts. Compare this effect with photo 1.13.
1.16) Herring Gull - 1st cycle, East Spillway Access, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County, December 26, 2009, 10:11 a.m. CST. The is the last shot as the bird departs from the spillway and heads out to the lake to raft with the Ring-billed Gulls.