Scoter ID and juvenile Gull - SW MI 12/25

[chipperatl 695]

Merry Christmas everyone.  I had this as Surf Scoter, but looking closer at pics the white patch next to the bill has me questioning that.  This lake has had White-winged and Surf reported in the past couple of weeks.  

I'm guessing this is a Ring-billed Gull hanging on to juvenile coloring a bit long.  It seemed too close in size to the Lesser Black-backed Gull that was "near" it.    

 

[AlexHenry 1,850]

1. White-winged Scoter for sure

2. Pretty sure it’s Lesser Black-backed, though photos aren’t too informative - maybe better left as gull sp

[chipperatl 695]

8 hours ago, AlexHenry said:

1. White-winged Scoter for sure

2. Pretty sure it’s Lesser Black-backed, though photos aren’t too informative - maybe better left as gull sp

Now I’m thinking the two gulls in the second pic are LBBG, and the first gull is a different bird.  

[AlexHenry 1,850]

7 hours ago, chipperatl said:

Now I’m thinking the two gulls in the second pic are LBBG, and the first gull is a different bird.  

I agree. The adult plumage bird in the first photo is probably Ring-billed. The 1st winter bird and the other bird in the second photo look like Lesser Black-backed to me.

[IKLland 1,313]

7 hours ago, AlexHenry said:

I agree. The adult plumage bird in the first photo is probably Ring-billed. The 1st winter bird and the other bird in the second photo look like Lesser Black-backed to me.

agreed

[Tony Leukering 3,444]

The brown gull in the first gull pic is a Herring; it's far too brown all over for the bird to be a young LessBack. The same might be true for the brown bird in the second gull pic. One might consider Thayer's for one or both and, perhaps, Larus sp. is a better option.