http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/ Montana's Outdoor Birding Group Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:04:14 GMT patrick_toomey_jr http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7491 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7491 MOBsters, Just a reminder that I need your help when you make entries into the photo contest by including all of the necessary information. The contest has Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:56:03 GMT Arla Eckert http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7490 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7490 It sounds to me like even the gulls themselves can not figure out what species they are for sure and end up mating with the wrong one giving us yet more gull Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:43:02 GMT Chuck Carlson http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7489 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7489 Jeff, Mobsters I just posted another photo. I found a California in the mix. Distance makes the size difference deceptive but the back color difference is Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:29:13 GMT Chuck Carlson http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7488 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7488 Thanks Jeff As to eye color, through the scope it was not as light as seen on the Ring-billeds and appeared mostly dark. However in the photos it appears Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:03:51 GMT hdroadcurlew http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7487 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7487 HI Gang, I'm actually in Washington DC having visited with Dan's Organization today. I must say how impressed I am with Am. Bird Conservancy. Any way TEd's Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:04:53 GMT Jeff Marks http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7486 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7486 Chuck, As you surmised, it is not a Thayer's. It's too big, head shape and bill are wrong, and wing tips are too light. I suspect it's a hybrid Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:11:56 GMT Chuck Carlson http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7485 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7485 Mobsters I've posted two long range photos of a gull I identified as an adult Thayer's Gull. However some of the characteristics seem a little off for this Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:41:44 GMT Daniel http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7484 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7484 MOB-sters: A lunch-time check of the Flathead Gullery revealed a minimum of 4 recognizable Mew Gulls (not all seen together). Big numbers, and the Glaucous Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:02:04 GMT Larry Carter http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7483 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7483 Hi all, saw one adult female Surf Scoter on pond 1 at Freezout this morning. Still have several Tundra Swans and White Geese around the lake. Saw one Marsh Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:06:56 GMT fabian_vas http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7482 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7482 Mob, Early this morning I had a Snowy Owl south of Westby, my first of the season. Ted Nordhagen Westby MT Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:32:03 GMT Arla Eckert http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7481 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7481 Hi, I checked again this after noon then again just before dark today with no luck. We seem to still have lots of Ring-billed Gulls but not our Lesser Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:48:29 GMT Chuck Carlson http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7480 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7480 Nate, Dan, Mobsters Just a point of interest on scoters In Birds of Europe by Mullarney, Svensson, et al is an excellent descrption and illustration of the Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:26:28 GMT NateK http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7479 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7479 Hello All, To add to Dan's notes on spotting scoters at a distance, I've also noticed that the White-winged will typically lift their wings a little higher Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:02:48 GMT Sharon Dewart-Hansen http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7478 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7478 Nat & Dan, I kinda of thought that was the case but you can't blame a girl for trying. We'll find one some day. However, having a full time job sorta limits Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:13:51 GMT Daniel http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7477 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/message/7477 Sharon: I agree with Nate that the bird you photographed is a Surf Scoter for the reasons he noted, with the apparent white stripe probably a light artifact. I