[Smithers]

169A9942-Gull sp by Patrick Covello, on Flickr

This was taken at the end of July on the West Vancouver Seawall. I'm not very good at my gulls and there seems to be quite number of gulls with streaked/mottled heads. However, based on the darker streaking (as opposed to mottling) on the nape of the neck, and less so, on the greenish legs and black and white wing tips, I think this is a Nonbreeding Adult California Gull. What do you think?

Pat

[StevenRoias]

I am more interested in the crayfish. It's not the native Signal Crayfish but looks rather like the non-native Virile Crayfish, which to my knowledge has not been reported in southwestern BC.

[Smithers]

169A9942-California Gull Nonbreeding?-Virile Crayfish by Patrick Covello, on Flickr

Thanks.

Regarding the crayfish - good catch! After a bit of detective work, I realized that the picture was taken in Saskatchewan. This seems to make sense, given the East-of-the-Rockies range of the Virile Crayfish.

Pat