To all:

John Pogacnik has offered more information on my gull posting - please see
below.  Great information.

Matt

-----Original Message-----
From: John Pogacnik [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 9:51 PM
To: Matthew Valencic
Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Miller Park Possible California Gull

Matt,

Your bird is a herring gull.  Herring's can also show the black and red bill

spot.  With a California the eye would be dark.  Also the bill would be a
bit longer.  The back color would also be darker (noticeably darker than the

ring-bills.  Other things to look for are greenish leg color and the shape
of the black wingtips.  On a sitting bird look for the all dark eye and
darker gray back to get started.

John Pogacnik


----- Original Message -----
From: "Matthew Valencic" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 7:24 PM
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Miller Park Possible California Gull


>I stopped at Miller Park about 3pm to practice with my new digiscoping
> camera (still need practice based on the results) and saw an adult and a
> juvenile gull that might be California's.  Comments from those-in-the-know
> would be appreciated.
> http://picasaweb.google.com/mvalencic/MillerParkSheffieldLakeOH111308#
> <http://picasaweb.google.com/mvalencic/MillerParkSheffieldLakeOH111308>
>
>
>
> Sibley describes the adult with a black and red bill spot (you have to
> zoom
> in to see it) and Peterjohn  (The Birds of Ohio) says they show up along
> the
> central basin of Lake Erie about this time of year but in small numbers
> and
> usually in company of Ring-billed and other gulls.
>
>
>
> Sibley describes the first-year juvenile to have a "pink-based" bill (zoom
> to see this) but otherwise looks like juvenile Herring (all black bill).
>
>
>
> Other birds at Miller Park were lots of Ring-billed and Bonaparte's,
> several
> Herring and about 6 Common Loons (Big Foot Pictures! - sorry!).  A few
> Mallards in the boat launch area.
>
>
>
> Matt Valencic
>
> Chagrin Falls, OH
>
>
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