Whitney Point Reservoir Today 5/5/21 LITTLE GULL, CERULEAN WARBLER, BLACK TERN

[david nicosia]

All, 

Again, miserable weather equals good birds. For today it meant great birds.  I started in the parking lot of Dorchester Park past the bridge across from the leftmost jetty. The trees were filled with warblers. I heard the distinct buzzy ascending song of the CERULEAN WARBLER. I tried to locate this bird as it sang sporadically but there was a flock of at least 50 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 10 PALM WARBLERS, AMERICAN REDSTART, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER all foraging in the trees within the parking lot. Most of the birds were in three trees with small leaves. I tried but with some many warblers moving about I was unsuccessful in seeing the CERULEAN WARBLER. But I know the song well and am certain of the ID. I also noticed all the gulls when I first drove in including many BONAPARTE'S GULLS on the grass left of the leftmost jetty. So after searching for the CERULEAN WARBLER and trying to find other warblers in the large flock, I went over to get some good photos of BONAPARTE'S GULLS. Many were in breeding plumage which is beautiful and makes for great photos. I saw this smaller 1st year gull that looked odd. It was a LITTLE GULL. I wanted to make sure so I took a lot of photos (attached) and shared with a friend who confirmed it for me. The bird was really different than the first year BONAPARTE'S GULLS. Small thin bill, black cap and a distinct black carpal band, not seen in the first year BONAPARTE'S GULL. The bird flew a couple times and had a darker distinct M pattern on its back and wings. I also heard it vocalize when the flock of gulls flew and its calls were different and sounded hoarser than the buzzy call of the BONAPARTE'S GULL. This was awesome and a lot of fun as the rain came pelting down. 

Then I scoped up the reservoir from Dorchester and aside from a nice grouping of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and loads of swallows down low, I got on a beautiful breeding plumage BLACK TERN coursing around like a giant swallow.  This bird was slowly working its way up the reservoir. I got great scope views of this bird. Later I saw this bird again from Keibal heading back toward Dorchester. At the end of Keibal, the LITTLE GULL flew by with a BONAPARTE'S GULL and you could see the much bolder M pattern on the back and wings. The bird was also noticeably smaller. The bird fortunately made its way back to DORCHESTER soon after which was great so others could see it. 

My ebird list for Dorchester with photos is here (I also attached some photos of the LITTLE GULL). https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S87159991

Best,

Dave Nicosia