[NatureNS] Redpolls and Iceland (Kumlien's) Gull

Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:22:47 -0300
From: iamclar@dal.ca
To: "NATURE, NS" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
User-Agent: Internet Messaging Program (IMP) H3 (4.0.3)
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects


All:

It's good that several have reported on the attenuation of the Redpoll season -
I'll want such information when I write the spring report on Tanagers to House
Sparrow in "Nova Scotia Birds." Let us know when you see your latest ones - it
would be interesting to see if there's a S-to-N pattern of last sightings.

Yesterday morning I stopped briefly to drink my Tim's at the harbourside beach
at Hartlen Pt., and was struck by the number of Iceland Gulls still hanging
about. There were 24 in all, including a few seen further up the harbour.
Interestingly, almost all were seemingly in first-cycle (first winter) plumage,
except for one clear second-cycle bird. Most had a considerable amount of pale
pinkish at the base of the bill, one with an almost Glaucous-Gull-like amount.
Also, most of them seemed to have very white primaries, none with "Kumlien's"
obvious gray. Could this recult from winter bleaching, or were there possibly
some "true" Iceland Gulls among them?. Probably not answerable.

All best, Ian McLaren

next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects