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.
> > >
> >
> |