Hi Everyone,

I found a FRANKLIN'S GULL at Sandy Point State Park after the rain this afternoon. When I arrived, the sun was peeking through the clouds and there were several hundred gulls active over the Bay, including over 40 LAUGHING GULLs and four BONAPARTE'S GULLs. While I was scanning from a vantage near the bridge, close to the gulls' normal beach roost, a distant bird on the water got my attention. It immediately looked good for FRANKLIN'S, so I stayed with it until it deigned to approach shore. (While distinctive at close range, caution is definitely warranted at a distance.) When it did approach land, it was a couple hundred yards to the north. I ran up the beach with scope and camera, making sure to look as crazy as possible, and was able to get looks that made me confident in the ID. This was around 5:40 p.m. 

It flew around in the distance, which was OK since my binoculars had accidentally departed with Ed Carlson yesterday evening. The scope views were very enjoyable. As I stopped to send some text messages, I noticed the birds had begun to scatter, and I looked up in time to spot the FRANKLIN'S flying by fairly close to shore. Not exactly frame-worthy, but I was very pleased to see it closer and in my viewfinder. Here's a documentation shot:

http://www.billhubick.com/images2/franklins_gull_sandy_pt_md_20101027.jpg

Field marks noted: Recognized the bird as a Franklin's Gull candidate based on distinctive, exact shape of partial hood and diminutive, overall "cute" appearance. The bill is short and diminutive, obvious when contrasted to a nearby Laughing Gull. Foraging and flight style stood out from surrounding Laughing Gulls, which looked slightly larger even at a distance. In flight, picked out of the flock by different flight impression (shorter wings). Noted limited black on underside of primaries bordered by white band. Lack of dark tail band makes this bird a second-cycle or older. Lack of white in the primary tips might suggest second cycle rather than adult.

The bird was last seen roosting on the water a little north of the bridge and fairly close to shore. However, I looked away for a minute and the bird moved elsewhere. It wasn't in sight when I left around 6:10 p.m.

Also present were two SANDERLINGs and a single DUNLIN, which I still consider nice birds in the county. 

Good birding,

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com