Ross’s Gull

Rhodostethia rosea

These two birds are Michigan’s first and second Ross’s Gulls. They were found on 14 December 2010 on the Keweenaw Bay CBC at roughly 10:15 a.m. by Jeff Lanfois, Will Lewis, and Joe Youngman on Keweenaw Bay between L’Anse and Baraga. I made these photos a few hours later that same day. These birds turned out to be one-day wonders—they were not refound the next day. Fewer than 40 Ross’s Gulls have been documented in the Lower Forty-Eight. I believe that these two birds constitute the first multiple individual record of this species in the Lower Forty-Eight.

Adult, note the tiny bill, the gray underwing, the pink hue to the underside, and the partial collar; photo taken at roughly 200 yards.

Adult, note the long pointy wing (not rounded, as in Little Gull), the white trailing edge to the wing that extends only to the inner primaries, the partial collar, and the pink hue to the underside; photo taken at roughly 200 yards.

Adult, note the wedge-shaped tail, the white trailing edge to the wings that extends only to the inner primaries, the pink hue to the underside, and the partial collar; photo taken at roughly 200 yards.

Two adults, note that the bird on the right shows an especially prominent pink hue; photo taken at roughly 300 yards.