Mew Gull (Larus canus), South of the Laughlin-Bullhead City Bridge, Mohave County

This Mew Gull was discovered by Lauren Harter and David Vander Pluym and photographed by David Vander Pluym on 29 January 2011 and 5 February 2011.

There are twelve previous state records. 

Small size and thin small dull pink bill with a black tip. Largely brown, white, and gray gull with brown smudged underparts, brown tail, heavily brown flecked uppertail coverts, and brown unpatterned underwing coverts. These points rule out Ring-billed Gull. These points and the brown tipped inner primaries identify this as the North American subspecies L. c. brachyrhynchus.

29 January 2011, photo by David Vander Pluym

The first three photos below were taken in Laughlin Nevada but the bird flew from the Arizona side of the river. These photos are much better than the previously submitted photos. The last photo submitted was taken at Katherine's Landing on the same date.

05 February 2011, photo by David Vander Pluym

All photos are copyrighted© by photographer