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ngannet
30th of December 2007 (Sun), 19:46
I found this bird in the same flock as the Black-headed Gull and the 50+ Bonaparte's Gulls. This is probably one of the rarest birds I've photographed. Though the shots aren't great, you can see how cool his underwings are, all black, which is a key ID feature. This is the smallest gull in the world (11" with a 24" wingspan). During the breeding season, they attain an all-dark head, much like Bonaparte's, Franklin's, Laughing and Black-headed.

http://www.pbase.com/ngannet/image/90996013.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/ngannet/image/90996020.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/ngannet/image/90996027.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/ngannet/image/91003012.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/ngannet/image/91003174.jpg
bromm
30th of December 2007 (Sun), 19:52
Great series and thanks for the underwing ID tip! Congrats!
ngannet
30th of December 2007 (Sun), 19:57
No problem! Also, note the smudgy cap on the head. Without this or the black underwings, it could be mistaken for Bonaparte's or Black-headed from a distance. Google Little Gull and look how dramatically marked the immature bird is, simply gorgeous. This is an adult.
canonloader
30th of December 2007 (Sun), 20:00
Nice shots Bob, and now you got me interested in gulls. although, I've always liked them, living on the water as long as I did. I need to find my bird book. :)
dancad
30th of December 2007 (Sun), 20:08
Another nice sighting for you...a great day, eh? I smiled when I saw the perfect diagonal alignment of the birds in the second shot! :-)
ngannet
30th of December 2007 (Sun), 20:09
Haha, thanks Mitch. I'll tell you, it's really easy to get hooked. I find it's really a thrill to pick out maybe one rarer bird in a big flock. And this gull ain't gonna be seen eating doritos on the beach!

Hehe, thanks Dan for noticing that! Normally I probably wouldn't have cropped it that way, but I liked the way they were arranged! Those are all Bonaparte's Gulls BTW in case anyone was wondering.
EdV
30th of December 2007 (Sun), 21:20
You are the man when it comes to gulls, Bob. Nice series of images of this rare bird. I might be able to notice it was different because of its small size. But other than that one gull looks like another gull to me. :) I even went so far as to buy "Gulls of the Americas" and it hasn't help me. I guess I will just go through life as gull challenged.

By the way, did you say this was at Mansquan?