Little Gull
Lake Perris
Riverside County, California
31 January 2001
Joseph Morlan

Today Robbie Fischer and I decided to look for the adult Little Gull which had been reported from parking lot #12 at the east end of Lake Perris. It was originally discovered there 28 January 2001 by Nick Freeman. We arrived at the boat ramp at parking lot #14 and I located the Little Gull flying back and forth in the company of numerous Bonaparte's Gulls across the lake. Although the bird was identifiable through the scope, we elected to walk around to the spit at the far east end of the lake for closer views in better light. Here we got excellent scope views although the bird was still at a moderate distance.

The following is based on notes taken while watching the bird:

The most striking feature of this gull was its black wing linings, evident as it flew around over the lake. This black color contrasted strongly with the broad white tips to the primaries and secondaries. These white tips were transclucsent and showed both above and below. From above the rest of the mantle was neutral gray, slightly darker than the mantle of nearby Bonaparte's Gulls. The wings were uniform, lacking the white triangle pattern in the primaries of the Bonaparte's Gulls. The wings also appeared to be more round at the tip and blunter than on the Bonaparte's Gulls. The rest of the body was white.

The bird appeared to be somewhat heavy chested, and smaller headed than the Bonaparte's Gulls. Its tail appeared relatively short and square, white in color. Through the scope, its dark cap could be seen as well as its short, dainty, black bill.

The Little Gull fluttered actively over the water, often swooping low and quartering back and forth among the many Bonaparte's Gulls at this end of the lake. It was clearly smaller than adjacent Bonaparte's Gulls in direct comparison. I never saw the bird set down on the water.

It is possible this is the same Little Gull seen at nearby Mystic Lake in previous years. Click here for a description and photo of that bird.