Lesser black-backed gull? Long Lake NWR, North Dakota

[SmilingBirder]

I believe this is a lesser black-backed gull, which is rare for North Dakota, and most of the USA in general.

Date is right now, September 12th, 5:45pm

But please tell me if I'm right or wrong. 

Thanks! 

Edited September 12, 2018 by SmilingBirder
Left out date

[psweet]

Do you have any other shots of this bird? There are a couple of odd things here -- it's a bit late in the season, I think, for such a white head in a Lesser, and the "drooping skirt" isn't typically seen in Lessers. The very dark back also isn't right. I would suggest posting this to several other places -- the Facebook gull page would be a good idea, for instance.

[psweet]

To be clear, if this isn't a Lesser, it's better - so we need to do this one right.

[SmilingBirder]

23 minutes ago, psweet said:

Do you have any other shots of this bird? There are a couple of odd things here -- it's a bit late in the season, I think, for such a white head in a Lesser, and the "drooping skirt" isn't typically seen in Lessers. The very dark back also isn't right. I would suggest posting this to several other places -- the Facebook gull page would be a good idea, for instance.

Thanks, I've added some more photos, but I don't know if they will be helpful. 

I'm not aware of any Facebook gull page, and Google didn't come up with anything that seemed right. Do you happen to have a link? 

[psweet]

Try this: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2070396249913801/

There's another one, it's closed -- I'm a member, so if need be we can get it there. I have an idea what I think this might be, but it's a species I have no actual experience with.

[psweet]

Okay, I was looking at that page -- no-one seems interested in doing anything there. Here's the other one -- you'll probably have to join. https://www.facebook.com/groups/nagulls/

If it's okay, I can go ahead and download these shots and post them myself (with your name, obviously) to simplify things.

[akiley]

1 hour ago, psweet said:

Try this: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2070396249913801/

There's another one, it's closed -- I'm a member, so if need be we can get it there. I have an idea what I think this might be, but it's a species I have no actual experience with.

I assume you're thinking Kelp?

Edited September 13, 2018 by akiley

[akiley]

 @psweet @SmilingBirder I cant see anything on Facebook, but it might be best (and easiest) to send it directly to Amar Ayyash, THE top North American expert on gulls. 

Here's his email address:   amarayyash@gmail.com

I emailed him directly once before and got a fast, helpful response back from him.

[SmilingBirder]

54 minutes ago, akiley said:

 @psweet @SmilingBirder I cant see anything on Facebook, but it might be best (and easiest) to send it directly to Amar Ayyash, THE top North American expert on gulls. 

Here's his email address:   amarayyash@gmail.com

I emailed him directly once before and got a fast, helpful response back from him.

Thanks! I emailed him, and within minutes he responded, 

"Hi, David. Thanks for getting in touch. I see no problems with Lesser Black-backed Gull. It appears rather dark and we might conjecture it's subspecies intermedius, but there's really no way to be certain without a known-origin bird." 

[psweet]

Okay -- I'll settle for that. (Incidentally, Amar's a friend of mine and one of the main voices on that facebook page...)

[psweet]

Quote

Amar Ayyash, THE top North American expert on gulls. 

I'm pretty sure Amar would disagree with this characterization, btw.

[Tony Leukering]

And, no, LessBack is no longer rare at any season in North America.  See eBird map for June - Sept.

[Nighthawk01]

Looks good for LBBG.