American Herring Gull   Larus smithsonianus  Feb. 28th 2009 Choshi Chiba Japan This is the only American Herring Gull I saw on the day. This taxon seems to be more uncommon than Thayer's Gull here. Note the pale lemmon yellow iris and yellow orbital ring. Note the paler mantle compared to the 2nd winter Vega Gull. The American Herring Gull rasing its wings among Vega Gulls.