Update: 31st March, 2000: - see bottom
of page for a new photo from Feb 2000.
This presumed definitive-alternate Kelp
Gull (Larus dominicus) was photographed at Playa
Bagdad, Tamaulipas, Mexico on 13 September 1999 by John and Carol
Gee, who photographed a similar
bird there the previous winter, and may have seen immature
birds there on the Sept. '99 visit, raising speculation that
Kelps may be nesting nearby (note that HEGU has been recorded
attempting to breed on islands in the Laguna Madre of south Texas).
Another intriguing facet is that both last winter and this winter
the Kelp was seen in close company with an adult LBBG (and again
on Oct. 8 1999). A careful look at the plumage reveals that this
bird is in active body and wing-molt - on October 8 it was noted
to have dropped more inner primaries; this indicates (assuming
it is a Kelp) that southern-hemisphere gulls can adopt a northern-hemisphere
molt timing:
John and Carol revisited Playa Bagdad on 15th February 2000, and
saw this bird - presumably the same individual?:
