Field Notes: Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)
Goleta Beach County Park, Goleta, California

December 4, 2007

First cycle Glaucous Gull (center) at Goleta Beach Park

Recently reported through the Santa Barbara County listserve was a first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL found by Kyle Braunger in the estuary at Goleta Beach Park on November 27, 2007. This gull has been intermittently seen by others, most often at the end of the day as the gulls come to the estuary before sundown. Returning from Ventura County I decided to stop at the estuary to see if I could locate it. The following notes are from memory and review of photographs.

Account:
At approximately 4:45 p.m. while sorting through gulls just up-river of the estuary I saw the Glaucous Gull fly in and land in the water where there were several other gulls swimming and feeding. It was quite noticeable flying in; a large, very pale gull with mostly white primaries. The gulls eventually flushed from the water and the Glaucous Gull flew to an adjacent sandbar where it could be studied out of the water.

Description:
It appeared larger than nearby Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis) and California Gulls (Larus californicus). Overall plumage pattern and coloration appeared consistent with a first cycle bird. It's plumage was mostly pale creamy-white with soft tan markings over much of the face and neck, upper breast, while the undertail coverts were patterned with tan bars. The scapulars were only slightly darker tan than the other tan bar markings, but obviously darker than the mantle. The wings looked nearly white as it swam in the water. It had a fairly large and long bicolored bill- pinkish at the base with a dark tip (approximately 1/3) and a dark edge on the lower mandible. Seen out of the water the lower belly was also patterned with tan barring. Legs and feet were pink in color, and the eye appeared small on the face. When standing the gull had a fairly erect posture, somewhat large chested, with relatively short primary projection beyond the tip of the tail. Other gull species noted nearby for comparison were Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) and two Thayer's Gulls (Larus thayeri).

Note bicolored bill and short primary projection

Status:

In Santa Barbara County Lehman (1994) treats this species as a very rare winter visitor being found most often along the coast. Garrett and Dunn (1981) also list this as a very rare winter visitor to southern California, mainly from late December through March. Almost all records have involved first-year birds in Santa Barbara County. The earliest arrival date was November 26, 1989. Photos © J. Chavez

Addendum:

I was reminded of this gull which I photographed on May 14, 2005 at the Santa Maria River estuary in Santa Barbara County. While it looks superficially like a Glaucous Gull- large bill, very pale plumage, apparent short primary projection, pink legs, barred undertail coverts- I was unable to determine its identity. An extremely bleached or worn individual, a hybrid with American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) or a leucistic gull are all possibilities. One prominent feature lacking on this bird is the bicolored bill of a Glaucous Gull.

Mystery gull at Santa Maria River Estuary May 14, 2005