A few record shots of two species of gull we rarely see in CT. From our room at the Captain's Inn in Moss Landing, CA, we watched a few Mew Gulls at low tide. On 2/5/14 we observed an adult; on 2/7/14, a first winter bird. Both times the Mew Gull was in the company of other gulls, including Ring-billeds from which it is separated size, bill, head shape, and plumage. Most striking is the Mew's distinctive upward thrusting, rounded head and thin, unringed bill.
The Glaucous-winged Gull, a first-winter bird, a large, all gray-white gull with a completely dark bill. It was standing in a group of about 250 Herring, Western, and California Gulls.
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| Adult Mew Gull, Moss Landing CA 2/5/14 |
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| Adult Mew Gull, Moss Landing, 2/5/14 (Coot in background) |
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| closer view of Mew Gull above |
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| 1st winter Mew Gull, Moss Landing, 2/7/14 |
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| 1st winter Mew Gull, 2/7/14 Moss Landing |
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| 1st winter Mew Gull, 2/7/14 Moss Landing, showing plumage contrast to Rig-billed |
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| 1st winter Mew Gull 2/7/14 |
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| 1st winter Mew Gull, 2/7/14, showing tail, under tail coverts |
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| Glaucous-winged Gull, Elkhorn Slough, 2/6/14 |
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| Glaucous-winged Gull, Elkhorn Slough, 2/6/14 |
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