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:

15 photographs

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., NC20 Jan 2007

Wake Co., NC20 Jan 2007Adult Ring-billed Gull

This 1st winter Herring Gull had a mangled leg and wing, but still managed to fly around fine.Wake Co., NC20 Jan 2007

Wake Co., NC20 Jan 2007This 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., NC20 Jan 2007The 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., NC20 Jan 2007The 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., NC20 Jan 2007The bill has a pinkish base whereas first winter Thayer's should be all black.

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., NC20 Jan 2007On 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., NC20 Jan 2007With Ring-billed Gulls.

Wake Co., NC20 Jan 2007

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

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