CT - another interesting first-cycle large gull - 02/26

Unidentified first-cycle gull - Windsor Landfill, Hartford Co., CT - February 26th, 2009.

Found towards the end of another Windsor Landfill visit, this extremely bleached and faded large gull jumped out from the pack as a bird of interest. It appeared to be a first-cycle bird with an almost entirely dark bill and mid-brown primaries. The bird was large, out-sizing most of the surrounding smithsonianus. Out of interest, it's worth comparing some of this image set of first-cycle Slaty-backed Gulls from the excellent Japanese Gull site. These were also taken in late February.