Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

Sorry -- it is a FIRST summer Franklin's Gull!

From:

"Gail B. Mackiernan "

Reply-To:

Gail B. Mackiernan

Date:

Fri, 9 May 2008 23:17:23 +0000

Duh! -- that was a dumb typo -- it is a FIRST summer Franklin's Gull...my brain must have been waterlogged when I posted that email!

Sorrry,
Gail Mackiernan

-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Bob Ringler <>
> 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. 
> > > 
> > 
>