First Cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull at Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant

This first cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the beach behind Ashbridges Bay Water Treatment Plant in Toronto on 20 December 2015. We were doing the Toronto Christmas Bird Count: John Carley, Carl Hills, Karen McDonald, Janice Melendez, Ian Maione, Henrique Pacheco, Justin Peter. It is considered to be the "best" bird of the 2015 Toronto count because there are only three previous records of Lesser Black-backed Gull for the count.

It appears to have molted some scapulars.

 It was smaller than nearby Herring Gulls, was dark overall and was preening, showing the pale rump. 20 December 2015