Update Feb 14, 2003: Ted has
just sent me a better scan of this bird, now added to the bottom
of this page; I feel that this is strongly suggestive of Western
Gull, but I'd appreciate getting input from others:
This 1st-Basic gull was photographed November 19, 1989 at East
Beach, Galveston, Texas by Ted Lee Eubanks. It seems to have the
"short rear-end", drooping bill, tertial step, and "skirt"
of exposed secondaries seen in many Western Gulls - but is it
yet another example of the notorious "Texas Variable Herring
Gull"??? After studying this individual, take a look at this very similar bird from Texas in
November many years later: New scan, added Feb 14, 2003:
