eBird
Black-headed Gull ranges across Eurasia but is replaced in North America by the similar Bonaparte's Gull. A rarity in California, this is the first record for Santa Cruz County. First noted 27 December 2023 at the mouth of Aptos Creek by David Sidle. Today we found it north of the creek at Seacliff State Beach. It is an adult in winter plumage lacking the dark hood. Formerly included in the genus Larus, it bears a strong resemblance to Brown-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus maculipennis) of the South American southern coasts. The two were considered conspecific by Hellmayr. Brown-hooded has a slightly darker mantle, narrower dark subterminal band on its primaries, more dark at the bases of its outermost primaries, and distinct white primary tips.
eBird
First found by Jon Feenstra near Lancaster 6 March 2023 and remaining in the area at Apollo Park where it became quite tame. through 8 July 2023. Dan Singer and I looked unsuccessfully for it on 10 July after which it showed up here in Willowbrook on 13 July 2023 remaining through the current period. I understand analysis of plumage and bill pattern confirmed it was the same bird. If accepted this would be the 6th record for California.
eBird
Juv. female. Sixth Alameda County record.
eBird
Mega rarity found this afternoon by Aaron Maizlich and seen by many observers until dusk. A Galapagos near endemic this species wanders south to waters off central Chile, but rarely heads north where it has occurred in California six times previously with the first record in Monterey Bay in 1985. This unique species is in its own genus. Unlike other gulls, they forage at night. To help with night vision they have exceptionally large eyes outlined in red as seen here. This appears to be an adult in full breeding plumage, presumably displaced by unusually warm water around the breeding grounds.
eBird
Ninth county record.
Nolan A Lameka
Amateur photographer
http://https://nal1212.smugmug.com/2023-Arizona-August/
Nolan A Lameka
Amateur photographer
http://http:/https://nal1212.smugmug.com/2023-Arizona-August//
Nolan A Lameka
Amateur photographer
https://nal1212.smugmug.com/2023-Arizona-August/
Nolan A Lameka
Amateur photographer
Photo by Jessi Trimble. 2nd FL record.
Roberto Torres
Amateur photographer
eBird
A spectacular major California rarity found this morning by Liam Murphy. California has only five previous records, the latest being from July 1999. This is the first record for San Francisco County. This species continues to decline throughout its range in the Eastern US where aggressive introduced European Starlings may usurp woodpecker nesting cavities. Males and females are similar.
|
Showing Records 1 through 12 of 5284 Total Records |
NEXT 12 |