These photos were taken by Martin Reid on January 19th, 2003,
on Lake Worth, near Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas. I first
saw this gull at quite a distance (while waiting for a close-by
California Gull to quit sleeping!), but could determine that it
was smaller than the RBGUs, with a slightly darker mantle; at
first I thought it might be a Mew Gull, as the tertial crescent
looked good - but I could just make out a hooded effect on the
head, as well as some yellow tones to the bill:
- this had me puzzled, so I changed locations and managed to
find the bird again, but much closer; I was rather surpised to
see what seems to be an adult hybrid between Franklin's Gull and
Ring-billed Gull:
The bill was as thick as the nearby RBGUs, and the tip of both
maxilla and mandible were pale, creating a ringed effect similar
to that of 2nd-basic RBGU:
- the tail was all-white and the folded primaries seemed to match
that of an adult FRGU; the mantle shade was about that I'd expect
on a palish Mew Gull - thus clearly lighter than the normal tone
for FRGU:
In direct comparison to nearby RBGUs the bill was almost identical
in shape and size - perhaps slightly shorter; I'd judge the color
to be yellow-orange:
The legs were a paler yellow-orange:
The hood was "broken", and the foot seems to be darker
than the legs; note the RBGU-like mirrors on Ps10:
