Documentation of California Gull
by Larry Rosche

Location: Eastlake Power Plant November 3, 2002
Time: 11:00 a.m.-11:30a.m.
Distance: 100-150 feet
Photo by:  Larry Rosche

Observers: Identified first by Rosche, seen also by Vernon Weingart, Roger Bueck and Greg Thompson.

Age: winter adult

Size: Bird was intermediate size between Herring and Ring-billed Gull.

Plumage: The head was whitish with considerable streaking toward the rear. This caused the neck to appear heavily streaked. The eye was dark (visible in photo) and stood out at a distance. The mantle considerably darker and is evident in photos. The wings were long and projected well beyond the tail. Each primary was neatly tipped with a white apical spot. In flight, the outer primary (P10) was tipped completely with white and the next primary (P9) was nearly so patterned. The black on the primaries was quite extensive and much more so than on a Herring Gull. The tail was completely white although viewed only when in flight.

Bare Parts: The bill was yellow with black and red spotting in gonys typical of a winter adult of this species. As the bird landed in the water, yellow legs were viewed well.