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Subject:

Franklin's Gull; Siskins; Fox Sparrow (AA Co.)

From:

stanley arnold

Reply-To:

stanley arnold

Date:

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 19:26:53 -0400

Hi Folks,

I headed to Sandy Point State Park (AA Co.) after work this afternoon,
arriving around 4 p.m. and hoping to capitalize on Bill Hubick's great
find from yesterday.  As I drove toward the park, the temp on my car
thermometer read 79 degrees, so I rechecked my watch to see if it was
really 28 October.  The weather was so balmy at the park that I was
pretty discouraged about finding anything.  There wasn't a single gull
on the beach, just a scattering out on the bay, and several swirling
very high overhead, but there were plenty of people around enjoying
the last taste of summer.

I hiked along the east beach that faces the Bay Bridge, and to the
north, then cut through the woods to get to the north beach.  After I
came out of the woods I set up the scope and scanned the bay water to
the north and west.  Within about five minutes I was shocked to find a
hooded gull by itself on the water.  It looked good from about 300
yards away, so I hiked out to the furthest jetty, cutting my distance
to the bird in half, and then watched it for about 15 minutes as it
slowly drifted toward me.  The more I studied it, the better it
looked, with its hood, pale neck and somewhat more nervous mannerisms
compared to Laughing Gulls in the area.  When two Laughing Gulls
eventually drifted next to the bird, I was confident that I was
looking at a FRANKLIN'S GULL, and continued to watch another few
minutes until it flew, climbing in a very loose circle.  I watched it
in the scope for another few minutes as it climbed, hopeful that it
would come my way, but it stayed out over the water eventually heading
toward the Bay Bridge.  I went back to the east beach hoping for
another look, but did not see it again.

Also at Sandy Point--my first AM COOTs of the season, one standing on
a wooden beam under a platform in the boat launch area, and the second
seeming a bit out of place floating out on bay not far from where the
FrGu was seen.

Back home, Elaine had a good day when SIX PINE SISKINs visited our
feeders, first for the year.  Another nice bird in the yard--a FOX
SPARROW, first for the season.

Nice birds for such a beautiful day.  And Mr. Hubick, let me know when
you're heading over; I'll have your beer waiting for you.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale