Slaty-backed selection - 01/17

Lovely shot of the much quoted 'String of pearls' effect.

Compare upperparts tone between Slaty-backed Gull (left) and Great Black-backed Gull (center).

What a day it was to be at Niles Pond on Eastern Point, Gloucester. Huge numbers of gulls resting and bathing, many of them close. This adult Slaty-backed Gull was among them looking quite awesome where ever he placed himself, spending at least two and a half hours on Niles Pond today. My last images were taken at 14:55hrs.

This bird looked significantly darker above and much more heavily blotched and streaked than the adult that I saw here on January 10th. At the moment, I'm not that convinced that it's the same bird.

Beyond the Slaty-backed, the rest of the gull show was mightily impressive with over 50 Kumlien's Gulls, about 4 Thayer's (all first-cycle at fairly close range/photo'd) and 5+ Glaucous Gulls. Hybrids included 2+ Nelson's Gulls and a possible Lesser Black-backed x American Herring Gull (third-cycle bird). More on that one in another post, along with a very interesting adult Kumlien's/Thayer's.



All in all, another very rewarding half-day spent at Niles Pond.



JPS.