January 6th 2007. Turner's Falls Power Canal, MA. Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Larus fuscus graellsii/intermedius. (4). The exceptionally mild temperatures today were interupted by a heavy thundery shower in late afternoon at the power canal. I'd already seen two Lesser Black-backs before the shower, an adult and a second year bird, but was pretty amazed to find another two, a third year and a juvenile/first-winter, before the light faded. I'm just not used to seeing multiples of Lesser Black-backs this far inland in Massachusetts and was really thrilled with this tally. Also present, a Snow Goose, Barrow's Goldeneye, Nelson's Gull and a Kumlien's Iceland Gull. I'm including images of all the Lesser Black-backs present, though the juvenile/first-winter arrived quite late resulting in rather blurry pics. All the ages are tentative and I'm quite happy to be corrected. Images taken using Canon Powershot A540 through Swarovski HD Telescope. |
 Lesser Black-backed Gull - juvenile/first-winter, rear left.  Lesser Black-backed Gull - juvenile/first-winter, rear left with first-winter American Herring Gulls.  Lesser Black-backed Gull - juvenile/first-winter.  Lesser Black-backed Gull - juvenile/first-winter, the closer bird with a first-winter American Herring Gull. Petite appearance with smallish all dark bill, uniform dark centers to scapulars looking rather scaly, very dark centers to tertials plus blackish primaries. |
 Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2nd cycle (center).  Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2nd cycle (rear left).  Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2nd cycle (left) with American Herring Gull.  Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2nd cycle. This bird may look bullish in the images, and it certainly looked large in the field, matching many American Herring Gulls in size and bulk. It also showed very pale, faded greater coverts accentuating its somewhat odd appearance. I returned to Turner's Falls on Jan 11th and saw this bird again under much better conditions collecting a number of flight images. More images here. |
 Lesser Black-backed Gull - 3rd cycle, right, with roosting adult (left), amongst American Herring Gulls.  Lesser Black-backed Gull - 3rd cycle. Bill dark with pale base and quite sharply demarcated yellow tip. |
 Lesser Black-backed Gull - adult with two American Herring Gulls.  Lesser Black-backed Gull - adult rear left, with 2nd cycle in the center. A Great Back-backed Gull is preening on the right. |