Hi,
I just viewed the nice photos of the Iceland Gull at Schoolhouse pond and
in my opinion it is clearly a first-winter Iceland Gull of the nominate
eastern race glaucoides, with no hint of any dark markings or fringes on
the primaries. Having said this, there is neither anything suggesting
Thayer's Gull which would be even darker/grayer on mantle, coverts,
remiges and retrices. After studying numerous photos of Iceland Gulls from
Eastern Ontario and the U.S. East Coast reported as kumlieni but with
clear plumage characteristics of glaucoides it seems clear to me that the
nominate race is much more frequent that commonly recognized.

Frode Jacobsen
Baltimore, MD


> I went over to Schoolhouse pond at lunchtime today.  Scoping from near the
> road I found a 1st winter Lesser Black-backed Gull and then a 1st winter
> white-winged gull, (which I took to be Kumlien's) both fairly close in. I
> then made my way over to another part of the pond and bumped into Jim
> Stasz and Fred Shaffer.  They had located the white-winged gull, which had
> moved to the back of the pond, and there was some discussion on whether
> its structure, in particular the bill, was not right for Kumlien's and
> that it might be Thayer's.  After a while the bird flew again to the front
> of the pond and I got some pictures (not great I am afraid):
>
> http://harrisbirds.com/Kumliens%20Dec%20MD.htm
>
>   It is quite long-billed for Kumlien's but it looks to fit some of the
> larger billed individuals in the new Howell/Dunn guide (eg 35A18 and
> 35A15).  In general the plumage seems fine for Kumlien's. I didn't get
> flight shots but the primaries were pale with a thin brown line along
> the web and that tail was rather solidly pale brown.  The primaries
> would seem to be extreme for Thayer's.  Any feedback would be much
> appreciated.
>
>   Regards
>
>   Clive Harris
>   Cabin John, MD
>
>
>