Can you guess what this is? Plus last week's answer and winner!

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** Monday Nature Mystery
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12/04/23

We are pleased to announce the winner of our Monday Nature Mystery, Ruth Lane (Maurice got it first but he has already won twice, thus not eligible for another prize). (Please email your snail mail address and preference for a hat or tote bag to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) ).

Congratulations to Maurice & Ruth for identifying this immature Herring Gull (Larus argentatus). According to All About Birds ([link removed]) , Herring Gulls take four years to reach adult plumage. Juveniles are mottled brown; second-year birds are brown but show gray on the back. Third-years have more gray on the back and more white on the head and underparts. The legs are dull pink at all ages. Herring Gulls prey on marine invertebrates, fish, insects, smaller seabirds, and even on adults, young, and eggs of other gulls. Along rocky shores, they take mussels, crabs, sea urchins, and crayfish. On mudflats, they seek worms, small clams, and mussels. In open water, they follow large predators (including fishing boats) that bring small fish, squid, and zooplankton to the surface.
Last Week's Mystery: Herring Gull (Larus argentatus). Photo: Judy Gallagher
Each Monday we’ll post a new photo and identify the previous week’s winner. They’ll receive an ASNV hat or tote bag.

Be sure to post your answer on our Facebook page @AudubonVA ([link removed]) under the Monday Mystery post...do not reply to this email with your guess! We only accept entries from our Facebook page, not via email.

Please remember to write the common name, being mindful of hyphens, uppercase and lowercase letters and always include the Latin name in parentheses. To learn more about bird names click here ([link removed]) .
Who is this? Photo: Matt Felperin

This week’s Mystery: Who is this?

Post your guess (please list both common name and Latin name) on our Facebook page @AudubonVA ([link removed]) under this week's Monday Nature Mystery. Remember, we only accept entries from our Facebook page, not via email!

Good luck!

-Audubon Society of Northern Virginia

Please note that we only accept entries on our Facebook page where they are date- and time-stamped. Remember that, if you need to correct your entry, you should make a new posting rather than correcting the old one so that we get a correct time stamp for your correction. Winners are limited to one prize every 90 days, maximum 2 per person.

Know someone who might enjoy our Monday Nature Mystery series? Forward this email on!
Enjoy the Monday Nature Mystery Series? Please consider supporting ASNV so we can continue to bring you educational (and fun!) programs like this.
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