[EBB Sightings] Red-throated Loon & Odd Gull at Quarry Lakes - ALA

Hey birders,

This morning I found an  adult Red-throated Loon at Quarry Lakes in Fremont 
(on Rainbow  Lake).

Warning - gull content follows:  Later in the morning, I went  back there and 
found a gull that really had me stumped.  It was bathing and  flapping 
vigorously, allowing good looks at its wings and tail, but it flew off  before I was 
able to study it as much as I would have liked.  The bird was  completely 
white, including the tail and wings, except for a bit of very pale  
brownish/grayish mottling on the mantle and scapulars.  The bill was bright  yellow with a 
red gonys spot.  There was no streaking on the head.  I  couldn't tell the eye 
color.  The legs appeared to be pink when it lifted  out of the water.  It 
was at least as large as the nearby Calif. Gulls, but  I just didn't have enough 
time to compare.  After consulting my gull books,  best I can figure is that 
this is a leucistic bird of indeterminate  species.

Kathy Robertson
Hayward, CA  




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