[mou] Black Dog Lake (Glaucous, possible Iceland)

[Paul Hurtado]

Hi everyone,

I stopped by Black Dog Lake/Reservoir today from around 4:40-5pm, spending 
that time near the outlet trying to sort through the distant flock of 
gulls across the lake.

When I arrived a KINGFISHER flew up from below the outlet into the trees, 
calling as it flew.  In the corner of the lake were a few TRUMPETER SWANS 
(down from the 11 I saw there yesterday morning) and a few Canada Geese 
(B. c. maxima?).  Also in the same area yesterday during the late morning 
was a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER below the outlet with a flock of 12+ 
HOODED-MERGANSERS.

I tried to scope the flock of 200+ gulls (mostly HERRING GULLS) but 
visibility wasn't all that good due to the fading light, cold air in my 
eyes, and steam off the water.

Stil, 4 birds caught my eye among the masses, all were "white winged" 
gulls (Glaucous, Iceland or Glaucous-winged type birds) however only 1-2 
were seen well enough to identify (1 Ad. and 1 1st/2nd year GLAUCOUS 
GULLS).

Bird #1:  A 1st or 2nd winter GLAUCOUS GULL.  Pale creamy bird with 
wingtips as pale or paler than the upper parts and a strongly bicoloured 
bill. Not a super-pale individual though -- very reminiscent of the 
glaucous gull seen this past Sunday while looking for the Ross's Gull near 
the 494 bridge.

Bird #2:  A slighly smaller, paler young bird that was about Herring Gull 
sized (maybe a bit larger, if anything).  I didn't get great looks at this 
bird as it blended in a little too well with the snow and ice under the 
poor viewing conditions, the bill wasn't ever seen.  Other than the pale 
creamy white plumage (including wing-tips) I would guess a paler 1st/2nd 
winter smaller Glaucous or maybe larger Iceland Gull, etc. -- but who 
knows...

Bird #3: Apparently an adult GLAUCOUS GULL.  A larger, paler bird than the 
surounding adult Herring Gulls. The bird was facing away from me and was 
clearly paler than the nearby Herring Gulls.  It had noticable white 
scapular crescents and wing tips more pale than the upperparts, at times 
looking almost white (but they could have been grayish white -- again, 
the poor visibility).  I don't have any guides with me, however looking at 
on-line resources I don't think it could have been something else like 
Glaucous-winged Gull - the only other option I could think of (?), based 
on the larger size and pale wingtips.  Also, the head was only lightly 
marked if anything, wing tips obviously paler than the light gray upper 
parts, large size, etc.  Bill and legs were never seen.

Bird #4:  A similarly pale looking young bird, perhaps a little darker 
than the other two pale young gulls.  This bird was only seen from the 
back later during my stay, when the light was getting bad -- but it was as 
pale or a little darker than the young Glaucous, and noticeably paler than 
nearby 1st winter Herring Gulls.  I would guess this was also a young 
Glaucous Gull based on larger size and pale plumage, however I really 
didn't see it all that well and couldn't rule out Glaucous-winged or 
something weird.  Wing tips weren't seen really well, but didn't contrast 
noticeably with the rest of the bird.

Good birding,
-Paul Hurtado