Heermann's Gull Larus heermanni is an abundant summer visitor to the Washington Coast, but it is a species that has it's own population risks. Almost the entire population of Heermann's Gulls breeds on Isla Rasa in the Sea of Cortez, where an estimated 90-95% of the population breeds. Any species where the breeding is so concentrated is at risk from environmental or weather catastrophies, and for the last several years we have been concerned because there have been very few juvenile Heermann's Gulls seen here in the summer.
These birds disperse to the nutrient rich waters off the coast of California, Oregon and Washington after breeding, and are gregarious by nature. It is common to see dense flocks on the beach or on a pier.
These are maybe our easiest gull species to identify, because unlike most gulls they are mostly a dark gray color, with the breeding adults showing a white head and red bill. The young and and non-breeding plumage birds are nearly all dark. Most of our adult gulls are primarily white with some black on the wingtips or in limited other places. The red bill is also distinctive.
This is a juenile bird.
Here is an adult in flight.
Often we see a Heermann's Gull following a Brown Pelican around, hoping for scraps from a fish caught in a dive by the pelican. It seems like sometimes every pelican has one Heermann's Gull as a follower.
By November most of these birds will be returning south to their breeding range.
Summer is a great time for looking at gulls, with juveniles, adults, sub-adults and all sorts of molt variations to study.
Good birding.
