Franklin's Gull [was: Re: Frederick County May Count

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At 12:04 AM 05/09/1999 -0400, David R. Smith wrote: 


>
> Hey all,
>  
> I was birding in western and southwestern Frederick County today during the
> May Count. 

(SNIP)
>
> The two highlight species were a pair of HORNED GREBE (one in breeding
> plumage the other in transition)  on the Potomac River about one half mile
> downstream of Lander Road and a first summer FRANKLIN'S GULL in a plowed
> field southeast of the intersection of Gapland Road and Catholic Church Road
> (DeLorme map page 55, 3A). The Franklin's Gull was associating with 42
> Ring-billed Gulls (adults and immatures) in the field, eating bugs off the
> ground and hawking them in the air over the field. For about an hour we had
> close looks at the bird perched on the ground and in the air. The darker
> mantled, hooded gull was noticably smaller than the Ring-billed Gulls with
> which it associated. The plumage was most like that of a first summer bird,
> as the hood was somewhat incomplete (white flecking on the face) and the
> white bar at the base of the primaries was not prominent (a hint of the bar
> was, however, still visible). The bird had distinct white tips to the
> primaries, prominent eye crescents, and a less substantial bill than on a
> Laughing Gull. Both the grebe and the gull were county firsts for us; the
> gull also being a state first. 

(SNIP)


Hi David -

Congratulations on a great find ... A Franklin's Gull on the piedmont is a
"reviewable" species by the MD/DC Records Committee.  The committee would
appreciate a report from you on this.  You can find the committee "review list"
(check category 5E for the gull's status)  and a "documentation
guideline/checklist" on the MOS web site at:

        http://www.MDBirds.org/

Take the "Records Committee" link off the home page.

A few people may not realize that your reference to a Franklin's also being a
"state first" is for your own state list--rather than a state first record. 
Franklin's are unusual in Maryland, but when they are found, it is generally on
the coastal plain, on the upper western shore.

Congratulations again on a great May Count and thanks in advance.

Phil


================================================
Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee

home:   PDavis@ix.netcom.com    Davidsonville, Maryland USA
work:   PDavis@OAO.com  Greenbelt, Maryland     USA

MD/DCRC Web site:       http://www.MDBirds.org
================================================

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Hey all,
 
I was birding in western and southwestern Frederick County today during the May Count.

The two highlight species were a pair of HORNED GREBE (one in breeding plumage the other in transition)  on the Potomac River about one half mile downstream of Lander Road and a first summer FRANKLIN'S GULL in a plowed field southeast of the intersection of Gapland Road and Catholic Church Road (DeLorme map page 55, 3A). The Franklin's Gull was associating with 42 Ring-billed Gulls (adults and immatures) in the field, eating bugs off the ground and hawking them in the air over the field. For about an hour we had close looks at the bird perched on the ground and in the air. The darker mantled, hooded gull was noticably smaller than the Ring-billed Gulls with which it associated. The plumage was most like that of a first summer bird, as the hood was somewhat incomplete (white flecking on the face) and the white bar at the base of the primaries was not prominent (a hint of the bar was, however, still visible). The bird had distinct white tips to the primaries, prominent eye crescents, and a less substantial bill than on a Laughing Gull. Both the grebe and the gull were county firsts for us; the gull also being a state first.

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