Nelson's Gull Cleveland 1/16

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   A first cycle Nelson's Gull (Herring x Glaucous Gull hybrid) was present at East 72nd Street this afternoon.  The bird mostly fed along the edge of the ice chasing all that came close.  It eventually left after everything was scared off by a passing peregrine falcon.

The gull was the size of a small herring gull but the overall impression of the bird was that of a glaucous gull as it was much bulkier in appearance.  The legs appeared fairly short and were rosy pink in color.  The wingtips were the first thing I noticed.  Instead of being pale as a glaucous or Iceland should be, they were similar in color to the rest of the wing.  The mantle had a brown and white checkered appearance similar to glaucous.  The bill was mostly dark and was of moderate thickness and length.  The bill of a first winter glaucous is pale with a well defined dark tip.  First cycle Nelson's that I have seen in the past often have a pale bill with dark tip.  The tail had a narrow band.

Here are some shots of the bird:

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jpogacnik Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Eagle Joined: 10 February 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 253	Post Options Post Reply Quote jpogacnik Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Nelson's Gull Cleveland 1/16 Posted: 16 January 2011 at 5:58pm
	A first cycle Nelson's Gull (Herring x Glaucous Gull hybrid) was present at East 72nd Street this afternoon. The bird mostly fed along the edge of the ice chasing all that came close. It eventually left after everything was scared off by a passing peregrine falcon. The gull was the size of a small herring gull but the overall impression of the bird was that of a glaucous gull as it was much bulkier in appearance. The legs appeared fairly short and were rosy pink in color. The wingtips were the first thing I noticed. Instead of being pale as a glaucous or Iceland should be, they were similar in color to the rest of the wing. The mantle had a brown and white checkered appearance similar to glaucous. The bill was mostly dark and was of moderate thickness and length. The bill of a first winter glaucous is pale with a well defined dark tip. First cycle Nelson's that I have seen in the past often have a pale bill with dark tip. The tail had a narrow band. Here are some shots of the bird:
	John Pogacnik 4765 Lockwood Road Perry, OH 44081 (440) 259-2751

db_ohio Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Eagle Joined: 31 March 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 666	Post Options Post Reply Quote db_ohio Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 January 2011 at 6:25pm
	I like that last shot. A very nice display of the coloring
	db

lannersaker Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Eagle Joined: 01 May 2005 Location: NE Ohio Status: Offline Points: 257	Post Options Post Reply Quote lannersaker Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 January 2011 at 8:22am
	Hey John - Great shots. I don't think this is a Nelson's Gull, however - so I don't think Glaucous is involved here at all. The facial expression/head shape and bill shape/size, to me, doesn't speak Glaucous. Instead, I'm looking at this bird as a Herring/Thayer's/Iceland mix. Not sure where the cross-over is, but I believe the combo falls there... still thinking about it... jen
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jpogacnik Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Eagle Joined: 10 February 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 253	Post Options Post Reply Quote jpogacnik Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 January 2011 at 9:17am
	I toyed with the idea of a Herring x Iceland or Thayer's. The birds bulk and short legs bother me. Also watching the bird regularly chasing herring gulls away didn't seem right. It's an interesting bird.
	John Pogacnik 4765 Lockwood Road Perry, OH 44081 (440) 259-2751

Paul C 1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Eagle Joined: 08 June 2005 Location: Bowling Green Status: Offline Points: 262	Post Options Post Reply Quote Paul C 1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 February 2011 at 5:08pm
	John, Jen, just a quick hello from NW Ohio and thanks for posting /commenting on the gull. AAARRRGGGHHHHH! as if advanced birding isn't difficult and challenging enough, just with age and plumage of certain species, WITHOUT hybrids! ;-) Paul Chad, Bowling Green