Gulls, Sierra Co., NM - 01/23

Thayer's Gull - adult with Ring-billed Gulls, Rock Canyon Marina, Elephant Butte Res, January 23rd, 2009.

A roost of over 500 gulls at Rock Canyon Marina, Elephant Butte Reservoir produced a great mix of species in an all too brief late afternoon gulling session at this clearly excellent site. The majority proved to be Ring-billed Gulls but our tally included 15+ American Herring Gulls, 2 California Gulls (adult and 2nd cycle), Thayer's Gull (adult), 2 Mew Gulls (adult and 1st cycle) and a Lesser Black-backed Gull which was clearly immature and probably a 2nd cycle - therefore not the adult reported from the same site on several dates in December and early January.

Mew Gull - first-cycle (left) with Ring-billed Gulls, Rock Canyon Marina, Elephant Butte Res, January 23rd, 2009.

Mew Gull - adult (center) with Ring-billed Gulls, Rock Canyon Marina, Elephant Butte Res, January 23rd, 2009.

Lesser Black-backed Gull - second-cycle with Ring-billed Gulls, Rock Canyon Marina, Elephant Butte Res, January 23rd, 2009.

Lesser Black-backed Gull - second-cycle with Ring-billed Gulls, Rock Canyon Marina, Elephant Butte Res, January 23rd, 2009.