Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)

Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) - Adult

Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) - Juvenile

These gulls were seen at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington on the afternoon of May 21st, 2011. This gull is a Pacific Coast one, found year round in the Seattle to northern Alaska coastlines. I find the identification of gulls to be a challenge- without close up views of feet/bills/tail feather markings, I find it close to impossible to distinguish one from the other. Add to that the confounding factor that there are hybrids of gulls out there (for the glaucous-winged here in Washington they hybridize with the western gull), and I am left with a stack of pictures just waiting to be posted contingent upon proper identification. You can read more about this gull here, and more about the Ballard Locks here.