Bird still there as of shortly after 4pm. Thanks to Joel Martin for relocating it after we mistakenly focused on a dark-hooded Bonaparte's.
And thanks Jim for a state bird.
Warren and Lisa Strobel
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
-----Original Message-----
From: Balestri Marcia <mebalestri...>
Sender: <mdbirding...>
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:50:40
To: MDBirding<mdbirding...>
Cc: Marcia Balestri<mebalestri...>
Subject: Re: [MDBirding] Franklin's Gull-Frederick County
Now that I am home and my fingers are thawed�
Thanks, Jim, for finding the Franklin's Gull, a state bird for me. When I saw it, it was on the WEST side of the road about 1/2-1 mile south of the cemetery, but after about 10 minutes or so, it flew to the east out of my sight. By the time I got there there were at least 7 Herring Gulls, maybe more. All the gulls (RB and Herring) were flying back and forth, so you might want to check both sides of the road. Fred Fallon and his wife pulled in behind me shortly after I arrived and was better equipped than I to take pictures (I do have some bad digiscopes that may or may not be good enough for any documentation). We both noted the relevant field marks (black hood; darker mantle; smaller than RB Gulls; slimmer, shorter, less "hooked" bill than Laughing Gull, prominent white eye arcs), and when it flew we saw the white spots on the limited black wing tips (so an adult). The bird also has a faint pink cast to its chest and belly. I am sure Fred will have more to add.
BTW, there is at least one record of FRGU in Frederick Co that I know of. One was found by David Smith and Kathy Calvert on a count (I don't remember which one) several years ago, but I will let them tell that story.
Nice gull day for Frederick County with the Bonaparte's at Kershner's Pond. We don't get the good ones like we used to when we had an active dump site.
____________________
Marcia Balestri
Frederick, MD
<mebalestri...>
On Mar 31, 2013, at 12:08 PM, Jim Moore <epiphenomenon9...> wrote:
> Now in field visible from route15 south about 1 mile south of Resthaven Cemetery. East of rd in field with hegu and rbgu.
>
> Jim Moore
> Rockville
>
>
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