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Hi, I saw these two gulls today in Middle Harbor Shoreline in Oakland, California. I am not sure what species they are. Thanks for your help. Isabelle

All gulls are Western correct? The Godwit is marbled correct?

Hello Whatbirders, A gull mystery for everyone... I hope you can help me out. At a pier in Eastern Massachusetts today (Jan 19), I was looking at a Glaucous Gull (see first image, center), when the dark backed gull to the right caught my attention. (As you can see, I then tried to get a few pics of it and zoom in for better ID help, but the resolution isn't great.) The dark gull appears to me to be about the same size or slightly smaller than the Herring gulls to the left of it. It has a rounded breast and a dark smudge around its eye. It's bill does not seem to me as dark and bulky as a Great Black-Backed Gull. Unfortunately, the ledge of the building cuts off all visibility of its legs, so leg color can't help us. The angle isn't so helpful for determining relative primary extension past the tail either. (I waited for a few minutes to see if it would move to a higher perch... no dice.) Is this a Lesser Black-Backed Gull? I'm leaning in that direction but didn't want to talk myself into something. Thanks for the help!

Please ID as many gulls as possible! Where: Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve, Guadalupe, CA. When: Jan. 5th (2021) --I am already aware of the Glaucous Gull. --Iceland (Thayer's) would be a lifer. Thanks!

Hello Forum! Thank you for all of your recent help in identifying my first west coast birds. YOU GUYS ROCK!!! I've got a few more that I can't quite place and would appreciate some help. Thanks! 1. The Merlin Bird App keeps pegging this one as a non-breeding or juvenile Black-Bellied Plover. It was larger than nearby sanderlings, smaller than willetts. Can anyone confirm? DSC_2603 by degibox, on Flickr DSC_2587 by degibox, on Flickr 2. I'm really hoping to have captured one of the local feral parrot species of the area and not just a couple of escape pets. The yellow on the side points to Chevron. Can anyone confirm? DSC_2852 by degibox, on Flickr DSC_2853 by degibox, on Flickr DSC_2861 by degibox, on Flickr 4. Lesser Yellow-legs??? DSC_2844 by degibox, on Flickr 5. For this last set I'm hoping I've captured the West Coast seagull trifecta of California Gull, Western Gull, and Heerman's Gull. Western seems certain. Are there any California's in there? The one in the center of of the last pick was IDed as Heerman's by Merlin Bird ID but also marked as Rare. Would love human confirmation. A. DSC_2783 by degibox, on Flickr B. DSC_2738 by degibox, on Flickr C. DSC_2802 by degibox, on Flickr

Another gull question... this is an interesting one. Seen in Monterey CA today, hanging out with a group of Western Gulls. Western and Herring can be ruled out because of contrasting pale inner web on outer primaries (visible in 2nd photo). Thayer's can be ruled out by the stout bill, bulky shape (especially head), darker coloration and less distinct patterning overall. This doesn't strike me as a Glaucous-winged x Western, as they tend to be browner on the head and underparts, with a darker brown "ear muff". So I'm thinking Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull hybrid or Slaty-backed Gull on this one. Hoping for Slaty-backed (would be a lifer). Thoughts?

Potential retroactive life birds here. I was going through some old vacation photos, before I started keeping my life list and before I tried to get good pics of the birds. Are all these Western Gulls? 1. - 5. Near Sea World, by the charter fishing and whale watching docks. 6. In La Jolla 7. - 8. San Diego Bay, bait barges Bonus: Any idea what these are? A couple miles out during whale watching. Surfbirds?

9/29/18, Traverse City, Michigan. Pretty distant gulls. A bunch of Ring-billed, a few Herring, (a couple swans), but what are the 2 in the circle? Could it be Great Black-backed and Glaucous?

4/27/18 in Orlando, FL. Should be pretty straightforward, but with gulls, I'm always wondering if I'm missing something. 1. Laughing Gull? 2. Ring-billed Gull?