Hundreds of Larus gulls in flight and on the ground, foraging for food scraps on trash mountain. Landfills have become well-trodden stopover locations for Larus species of the west coast, used by both resident Olympic Gulls and migratory Glaucous-winged Gulls and Cook Inlet hybrids from as far north as southern Alaska, perhaps further. These generalists also spend time foraging in nearby farm fields and Boundary Bay.

Landfill frenzy.
(Delta BC, December 14 2025)

#birds #birding #christmasbirdcount #larus #larusthayeri #larusglaucescens #larusglaucoides #larusglaucoidesthayeri #larusoccidentalis #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #olympicgull #thayersgull #cookinletgull #americanherringgull #larussmithsonianus 🪶

An Olympic Gull (Western x Glaucous-winged hybrid) about to take flight with a clump of moss in its bill. Grass pulling is an intraspecific behaviour indicating aggressive intent to nearby trespassers, "This is what I will do to you." I have seen gulls pull grass, moss, garbage, leaf litter and dock lines--whatever loose objects or materials are within grabbing distance.

Moss (not grass) pulling.
(Vancouver BC, Dec 6 2025)

#birds #birding #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #larusoccidentalis #larusglaucescens #larus #gulls #seagulls #gullable #gullible 🪶

An adult Olympic Gull (Western x Glaucous-winged hybrid) stands on some park grass, bejewelled with black and blue bands on the left leg, and blue and metal bands on the right. Report coloured gull bands in the Pacific Northwest region to the Salish Sea Gull Project: https://salishseagullproject.shinyapps.io/submit-observation-form/

Banded Olympic Gull.
(Vancouver BC, Dec 2 2025.)

#birds #birding #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #larusglaucescens #larusoccidentalis 🪶

A young Olympic Gull (Western Gull x Glaucous-winged Gull hybrid) stands on the edge of an urban water feature, with water frothing from a fountain behind. This bird is starting to replace body feathers in the 1st prealternate (prebreeding) moult. The Lower Mainland is right above the intersection of the breeding ranges of Glaucous-winged Gull to the north and Western Gull to the south. The resulting hybrid swarm produces a vast array of phenotypes--birds with a unique set of characteristics--as multiple generations of mixed gulls interbreed.

Overlooked Olympic Gull.
(Vancouver BC, Sept 23 2025)

#birding #birds #gulls #seagulls #gullable #gullible #olympicgull #westerngull #glaucouswingedgull #larusoccidentalisxglaucescens #larusoccidentalis #larusglaucescens 🪶

Olympic Gull (Western Gull x Glaucous-winged Gull hybrid) in flight with lingering natal down behind eye.

Juvenile Olympic Gull in flight.

#birds #birding #gulls #seagulls #gullable #olympicgull #westerngull #glaucouswingedgull 🪶

Olympic Gull feeding its young.

#birds #birding #gulls #seagulls #gullable #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #larusglaucescens #larusoccidentalis 🪶

Adult long calling as partner arrives to feed young.

Juvenile pecks at parent's bill to encourage regurgitation.

Adult feeds nestlings some mystery flesh.

Adult and juveniles look my way.

Olympic type Gulls in the thick of child-rearing season.

#birds #birding #gulls #seagulls #gullable #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #larusglaucescens #larusoccidentalis 🪶

Olympic Gull with an interesting iris colour. The pinkish orbital is mixed with yellow, which is presumed to be a Western Gull trait.

#birds #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #larusglaucescens #larusoccidentalis 🪶

Olympic Gull in its 2nd calendar year. Notice the greyish median coverts and scapulars, which were replaced in the autumn and winter months.

What needs to be added to Gullable next?

European Herring Gull is on my radar.

If someone says an AI chatbot...(*breathe*)...I'll politely say that that falls outside the scope of this project.

#birds #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull #gullable

Olympic type Gull looking worn and bleached.

#birds #birding #seagulls #gulls #westerngull #glaucouswingedgull #olympicgull #larusoccidentalisxlarusglaucescens

Early 2nd cycle Olympic Gull (Western x Glaucous-winged Gull) preening. Largely in 1st cycle plumage, but inner primaries have started being replaced in the 2nd prebasic moult (not visible here). The greyish scapular feathers are 1st alternate feathers.

Early 2nd cycle Olympic Gull preening, revealing its undertail coverts.

#birds #olympicgull #larusoccidentalisxlarusglaucescens #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #seagulls #gulls 🪶

One of the only "pure" Glaucous-winged Gulls I have encountered lately, with paler primaries than typical hybrids.

Olympic Gull standing on a rock. Notice the contrast between the newer 1st alternate body feathers and worn 1st basic wing panel and flight feathers.

Olympic Gull with dark primaries and checkered wing panel. Notice the greyer 1st alternate feathers.

Olympic Gull caught in direct sunlight. The new 1st alternate scapulars (feathers on back) stand out from older upperwing coverts below.

Glaucous-winged Gull types, many of which have started moulting primaries as part of the 2nd prebasic (postbreeding) moult.

#birds #birding #gulls #seagulls #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #olympicgull #gullable #larusglaucescens #larusoccidentalis #larusoccidentalisxlarusglaucescens 🪶

Early 3rd cycle Olympic Gull (Western Gull x Glaucous-winged Gull hybrid) in flight. Inner 3 primaries shed and or growing, kicking off the 3rd prebasic (postbreeding) moult. Grey scapular and covert feathers are 2nd alternate (breeding).

Early 3rd cycle Olympic Gull.

Inner 3 primaries shed and or growing, kicking off the 3rd prebasic (postbreeding) moult.

Grey scapular and covert feathers are 2nd alternate (breeding).

#birds #seagulls #gulls #larusglaucescens #larusoccidentalis #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull

Olympic Gull hybrid standing on an apartment rooftop. Superficially resembles Glaucous-winged Gull, but primary tips too dark; also has pale yellowish on orbital ring, which may suggest Western influence, but an unreliable characteristic.

Olympic Gull (Glaucous-winged Gull x Western Gull).

Year-round residents or short-distance migrants, averaging larger than "pure" Glaucous-winged Gulls from the north.

#birds #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #larusoccidentalisxlarusglaucescens #larusglaucescens #larusoccidentalis 🪶

The browner, checkered feathers are juvenile (1st basic), the dark grey ones 1st alternate. I like how the scapulars and flank feathers appear to envelop the wing panel.
#birds #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull 🪶 #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull

Olympic Gull (Glaucous-winged x Western Gull hybrid) with depigmentation. One of the first sightings of this bird was back in 2021, when it didn't have bands. Now it has colour bands for the Salish Sea Gull Project.

Aberrant Olympic Gull with unfortunate backlighting.
#birds #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull 🪶

Olympic Gull (Glaucous-winged x Western Gull hybrid) posing for "the shot." Bulbous bill gives off Western influence, but Cook Inlet (Glaucous-winged x Herring Gull) is never far from mind.

Olympic Gull landing. The depigmentation on the outer wing is asymmetrical; on the right wing, only p10 is all white, while on the left it extends to p8. The inner webs on the rest of the primaries are also quite pale, magnifying the venetian blind effect.

Olympic Gull with depigmentation on the outer primaries and primary coverts.
#birds #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #larusglaucescens 🪶

Glaucous-winged Gull type tugging at a leg of a Dungeness(?) Crab it found at the tidal line.

Keeping our beaches clean is a big job, one that our local gulls are happy to do.

#birds #gulls #seagulls #glaucouswingedgull #olympicgull #dungenesscrab 🪶

Olympic Gull taking off to get ahead of incoming waves. Apical (white tip) on p10 partially joined to mirror by broken subterminal band. Probably not visible here, there is a mirror in the form of a small white speck on the outer web of p9.

Olympic Gull in flight. P10 mirror with dark markings on inner web. p9 mirror split by streak along rachis (feather shaft). Small mark on outer web of p5.

First cycle (<1 year old) Glaucous-winged Gull type flying overhead. Barring on ventral area and undertail coverts contrast with smoother brownish grey underparts. Darker underwing lesser coverts, median coverts and auxiliaries compared to greater coverts and remiges (primaries and secondaries).

Olympic Gulls in flight.
Vancouver BC, March 15 2025.

I notice gulls tend to not get as much engagement as other groups. Here's to our underappreciated larids!

#birds #seagulls #gulls #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull 🪶

I named the left bird Tina, the right one Gilbert. Large Larus gulls exhibit sexual dimorphism, with males tending to be larger and bulkier than females. However, individual variation could also explain the size difference, so the jury is still out.

Tina and Gilbert are back, courting each other and practicing sitting where their nest was last year.
#birds #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull 🪶

Too close buddy!
#birds #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull 🪶

Olympic Gull mew calling.

1 day left until I can prepare Gullable for Google Play. Almost there Android users!
#birds #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull 🪶

Adult Olympic Gull landing on a rock.

Second cycle Olympic Gull in flight. Grey feathers on upperparts part of second prealternate (postbreeding) moult.

Adult and 2nd Cycle Olympic Gulls
(Vancouver BC, February 14 2025)

#birds #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull 🪶

Olympic Gull (Glaucous-winged Gull x Western Gull hybrid) in flight. Wingtips are too dark for pure Glaucous-winged. Broken tailband indicates that this bird is 2-3 years old--either an advanced 3rd cycle or delayed 4th cycle.

3rd-4th cycle Olympic Gull. (Note residual tailband.)

7 days until my app can apply for production on Google Play. In the meantime, anyone who wants to opt in to the Android closed beta can message me.

#birds #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull