Larus occidentalis

Birded the south spit of Humboldt Bay this morning and found loads of Western Gulls out on the jetty. Western Gulls live only along the west coast of North America. Their large size, snow-white plumage, pink legs and bright yellow bill distinguish them from other gulls. Living on the California coast, I grew up seeing this gull all the time and so probably thought of it as the quintessential "sea gull," when in fact on a global scale its one of the rarer species.

A super cute baby one here.

Also blipped on 12th May 2012 along the north spit of Humboldt Bay.