Gail,
   Could you clarify for us the plumage of the Franklin's Gull you and Barry saw? Your description sounds like a first-summer bird but you call it second-summer. None of the books I have checked shows a second-summer plumage which is supposed to be virtually identical to adult. I appreciate any help you can give us on this.

--
Bob Ringler 
Eldersburg MD 


-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Gail B. Mackiernan <>" <> 

> Hi all -- 
> 
> As Paul posted, we first found the second summer Franklin's Gull on the Hain's 
> Point golf course in late morning, but it flew off. We then did a careful circle 
> around the point, in the pouring rain, looking at all the pools on the very 
> flooded course, and finally relocated the bird resting with other gulls north of 
> the clubhouse, where there is a large (temporary?) lake. Had good scope views 
> from the road along Washington Channel, also went into the golf course clubhouse 
> area and walked around to the end of the driving range building where it was 
> sheltered from the rain. However the bird could not be seen from that vantage 
> point. It was somewhat mobile, flying about a bit, but if the rain continues and 
> the golf course remains closed, it might stick around. 
> 
> As best we could determine (allowing for distance and rain) a second summer bird 
> with a completely gray mantle, a dark half-hood and reduced white on primaries 
> compared to a full adult. It was the only "hooded" gull present among the 
> Ring-bills, plus a scattering of Herring and immature Greater Black-backs, and 
> three Caspian terns. 
> 
> Lots of shorebirds on the many pools, we counted about 20 Lesser and three 
> Greater yellowlegs, about 25 Solitary, 15 Spotted and 8 Least Sandpipers. One 
> Common Loon on the river. Also three Bobolinks on the grass, one a brilliant 
> male, and another flock of about 25 flying and calling. Only a few other 
> passerine migrants: several Yellowthroats, heard Yellow Warbler and Redstart, 
> Warbling Vireo and Baltimore Oriole. Purple Martins are back at their nest 
> boxes. 
> 
> Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper 
> Colesville, MD 
> 
> -------------- Original message ---------------------- 
> From: Paul Pisano 
> > I just got a call from Gail Mackiernan, she & Barry Cooper found a 1st 
> > summer FRANKLIN'S GULL at the Hains Pt. Golf Course today (Friday, 5/9). 
> > They first saw the bird around noon as they were driving down the beginning 
> > of the loop road, but then lost it. They relocated the bird later this 
> > afternoon in the large rain pool at the north end of the golf course. This 
> > pool is probably best viewed from Buckeye Dr. Park in the tennis court lot 
> > on the north side of this road, and cross the street for best viewing. A 
> > scope is probably required. 
> > 
>