[Maine-birds] YCAS Gull ID Workshop Summary, including notes on the not-so-Thayer's in Portland

Hi all,

I had the pleasure of leading a two-day workshop for York County Audubon this weekend, with Sunday morning being spent in the field around Greater Portland.  An enthusiastic group of future laro-philes enjoyed 15-17 Iceland Gulls and 3-4 1st-W Glaucous Gulls in Portland Harbor, along with the intriguing bird that has been called a Thayer's Gull by some. It was a most instructive bird for the group to study, but I do not believe this is a bird that can be considered a bona fide Thayer's Gull - at least on the East Coast.  My reasoning and discussion are included on my blog entry summarizing the weekend's program:

http://mebirdingfieldnotes.wordpress.com/2014/02/10/gull-identification-workshop-wrap-up/

A quick "extension" to Westbrook failed to produce "The Westbrook Gull" or the shovelers, or the pintail, but we did enjoy a pair of RING-NECKED DUCKS that Colin Chase had just found along the downtown riverwalk.

-Derek

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Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04069
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com

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