These definitive-alternate Herring Gulls
Larus a. smithsonianus were photographed by Martin
Reid at East Beach, Galveston, Texas on 3rd April, 2000. The individual
on the right was clearly a bit darker than all nearby HEGUs, had
a more angular head shape, smaller apical spots, and prominent
gonydal angle with a steeply curved tip to the bill; sadly, no
details of the open wing were seen. As always, comments
would be appreciated: Update August
2, 2000: I re-checked my photos and found another image
of the the darker HEGU, plus I rescanned the original image to
create a larger version - see below:
Note the large white subterminal "pearls" on P6, P7,
and especially on P8 (P9 lacks a mirror), plus P5 has just a tiny
spot of black; could this be a vegae?:
