Turner's Falls, MA. November 8th, 2005.
| Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan. First-winter.
| Update Nov 10th - Regarding records of this species for Western Massachusetts, Seth Kellogg has kindly provided this information;
Only two records for Franklins Gull, (or perhaps three)
September 15 - 22, 1986 in Amherst, at the Amherst landfill.
September 22, 1986 a bird found at the Longmeadow Sandbar may have been the Amherst bird on its way south.
June 28, 1997 a bird was seen at Lake Onota, near Pittsfield by Bob Goodrich.
Unfortunately, despite the efforts of a number of birders at Turner's Falls on November 9th, the Franklin's Gull wasn't seen again.
| Turner’s Falls (pm) -
**Please bear in mind that almost all the light had gone when the Franklin’s Gull flew in. The images are somewhat fuzzy, but I felt lucky to come away with at least something, as well as enjoying great views.
Canada Goose - 600+
SNOW GOOSE - 1 juvenile. Departed at 16:30hrs with Canadas.
Hooded Merganser - 2 (1 male).
Common Merganser - 17.
Red-breasted Merganser - 1 female/juv.
Common Goldeneye - 1 male.
American Coot - 1
KUMLIEN’S ICELAND GULL - 1 juvenile/first winter.
American Herring Gull - 5
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL - 1 juvenile dropped in and began bathing. Departed just after the Franklin's Gull departed.
*FRANKLIN’S GULL* - 1, first-winter, dropped in at 16:38hrs. Preened
and bathed for a short period and departed towards Barton Cove at
16:40hrs. Clearly smaller than Ring-billed Gulls with more compact
shape recalling Little Gull. Dark gray mantle, much darker than
Ring-billed Gull with brownish coverts and darker tertials, and black sub-terminal
band to tail. Very obvious dark half-hooded effect with white eye
crescents. Remarkably, Steve Mirick also discovered a first-winter Franklin’s Gull today at Rochester WWTP in New Hampshire.
Ring-billed Gull - 200+ along the canal.
| | All images taken using Canon Powershot A-95 through Swarovski HD telescope. |
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