Nimbus Fish Hatchery, Rancho Cordova, California
From Late October through February, the Nimbus Fish Hatchery along the American River, off Highway 50 east of Sacramento, California is an excellent place for close up views of many species of gulls as they feed on spawning and dying Chinook Salmon and later Steelhead Salmon eggs and waste from the fish hatchery. The Fish and Game Hatchery is just under the Hazel Bridge at the American River in Sacramento County, California. The species list of gulls seen at the hatchery include Herring, Thayer's, Glaucous-winged, Glaucous, Western, California, Ring-billed, Mew and occasional hybrids.
How to get there: Driving east on Hwy 50 between Sacramento and Folsom, you exit on Hazel and go north. Just before crossing the bridge, Turn left (west) on Gold River Blvd. Then an immediate right turn takes you down a short drive. Follow the signs to the hatchery parking lot. A spotting scope is most helpful. Suggestions for timing your visit are at the bottom of this page.
Nov 2003 - Present. Suggestions are solicited for the identification of of the same first winter gull in the following 10 digiscoped shots. Some observer comments follow the photos.
taken at Nimbus Fish Hatchery 11-24-03 - digiscoped by Kathy Robertson
Nimbus2003-1 Photo by Steve Abbott December 06, 2003
Nimbus2003-2 head, bill, tertials Photo by Steve Abbott December 06, 2003
Nimbus2003-3 legs, coverts, tail Photo by Steve Abbott December 06, 2003
Nimbus2003-4 side Photo by Steve Abbott December 06, 2003
Nimbus2003-5 wing, mantle, tail Photo by Steve Abbott December 06, 2003
Nimbus2003-6 wings Photo by Steve Abbott December 06, 2003
Nimbus Gull 1
12-6-03 Nimbus Hatchery, Sacramento County --Chris Conard
Nimbus Gull 2
12-6-03 Nimbus Hatchery, Sacramento County --Chris Conard
Nimbus Gull undertail
12-6-03 Nimbus Hatchery, Sacramento County --Chris Conard
Some field marks as noted by various observers:
The slender, all black bill was key as well as the long black primaries that extend well past the tip of the tail while swimming. The whitish uppertail coverts strongly offset the blackish tail with a white subterminal band, noted especially while in flight. The light colored head does not appear to have a darker auricular patch
there are several characteristics that clearly separate it from the most similar first-winter Herring Gulls. The base color of this bird's neck, breast and belly is white with brown mottling. Every Herring Gull that I looked at had a gray-brown wash to the breast and belly (no pure white areas)--even those birds with fairly white heads. The target bird's bill is all black, with no hint of pink to the base and the forehead and lores are contrastingly very white.
We noted the black inner primaries were not markedly paler as with 1st
winter Herring Gulls. The very black tailband had a thin white terminal
tip extending across the tail and the upper tail coverts were contrastingly
white. The undertail coverts, whose outer edges were marked with dark,
chevron-like barring, were much whiter than one sees on 1st winter Herring
Gulls which show grayish-brown undertail coverts with distinct barring
throughout.
it is important to note the slender width of the all black bill, the black
primaries, and dark wing coverts crisply edged with white which help to
distinguish the bird from the myriad of 1st winter Herring Gulls along the
river. The primarily whitish forehead, the long black primaries, the black
terminal band on the tail, the white upper tail coverts and the white (not gray)
undertail coverts all help in distinguishing this gull. It does not have a
conspicuous dusky area surrounding the eye--many nearby 1st winter Herring Gulls
appear to have dusky markings around the eye that are nearly as dark. The
intermediate size between that of a California Gull and a Herring Gull, the
long, black primaries which give the bird an attenuated look, and the "salt
and pepper" look to the mantle and wing coverts are the primary clues to
use.
It is a good idea to get there early. Be aware that, on weekdays, with the salmon run approaching a near peak, there are school bus loads of very excited children that begin to arrive around 9 A.M. 9:01 is a good time to begin the stroll downstream. . . away from the hatchery.
If
you haven't been here before, be sure to check these spots:
1. Gulls sitting directly on the diversion weir. These tend to be the big gulls,
Glaucous-winged, Herring, Thayer's.
2. On top of the hatchery building and in the holding pen at the top of the fish
ladder. Sometimes Thayer's and lots of Cal gulls at 20 ft.
3. At river's edge next to the fish ladder by the primary outflow. Here is where
the gulls and mergansers wait for floating salmon eggs and fish
pellets that come out of the pipe. Perfect viewing conditions.
4. Working downstream, check the 5 wooden light poles (Glaucous-wingeds prefer
the last two poles)
5. The cable across the river frequently is the best place to pick out the
occasional Mew Gulls sitting balancing with the Ring-bills and
cormorants.
6. The two settling ponds at the west end of the hatchery enclosure are a great
place to get photos of Glaucous-winged, Thayer's and the small gulls
as they wait for small fish and fish food to wash out of the pipe.
7.
Just past the settling ponds, take the small trail under the trees to the bike
path. Walk downstream first along the bike path and then drop down
along the river's terrace to overlook the gravel bars. Here, several hundred
Herring Gulls are usually picking away at the dying salmon. Last
year, at the peak of the salmon run, over 1100 Herring Gulls could be found
loafing and eating Chinook filets. A Glaucous Gull was found here two years
ago. The sun is at your back for perfect lighting. Here along the river is where
to look for Barrow's Goldeneyes among the 150+ Common Goldeneyes.
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Here are some numbers from Nov. 20, 1997 at one gravel bar and adjacent to the
hatchery::
(e.g. 3rd W means a gull entering it's 3rd winter (basic) plumage.)
Herring Gull adult W = 216
3rd W = 17
2nd W = 18
1st W = 31
Thayer's Gull adult W = 3
3rd W = 2
2nd W = 1
1st W = 5
Glaucous-winged Gull adult W = 3
3rd W = 0
2nd W = 1 (hybrid?)
1st W = 7
(also 2 possible 1st Glaucous-winged X Western Gull
hybrids)
Cal Gull 114 all age classes
Ring-billed 75 all age classes
Mew Gull 1 adult W
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If this Gull-o-rama is not enough, check out the thousands of gulls going to
roost every night on Lake Folsom. They often sit and bathe and preen close
to shore at Beals Point where I, too, find myself roosting most afternoons.