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Mark Johnson
Nov 19, 2014, 3:38:06 PM11/19/14
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Hi all,
I've posted a distant documentation photo of what appears to be a first winter Franklin's Gull at my Flickr site (based on Sibley's depiction...I have zero experience with the species). Here's the link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/27381338@N03/15643508028/ . The bird was in the impoundment at the Chestertown Wastewater Treatment plant on John Hanson Rd. It was only seen in the water and briefly on dry land at the extreme west end of the impoundment, so no flight photos. It was in view from roughly 11:53AM to 12:05PM. I then called Josh Emm to get the word out (thanks Josh). Most of that time, the bird was feeding in the midst of a swirling mixed flock of Ring-billed and Bonaparte's Gulls, Shovelers and a few Coots, pressed up against the west edge of the impoundment. At one point, it pulled up on the weedy shore, but was mostly blocked from view, so I couldn't see anything but it's head. It was the only gull with a partial hood. The mantle was darker than the other gulls around it. The bird flapped it's wings at one point, so I could see the mostly clear white underwings, and see that there wasn't any white at the leading edge. The bill was short, thin and black. The hind neck was all white.
I had lost track of the bird and hadn't relocated it by 12:15, at which time I realized I could no longer feel my fingers, so I left. I'll try to find some other photos that aren't too blurry and post them later. Good luck if you give chase.
Mark Johnson
Aberdeen
I've posted a distant documentation photo of what appears to be a first winter Franklin's Gull at my Flickr site (based on Sibley's depiction...I have zero experience with the species). Here's the link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/27381338@N03/15643508028/ . The bird was in the impoundment at the Chestertown Wastewater Treatment plant on John Hanson Rd. It was only seen in the water and briefly on dry land at the extreme west end of the impoundment, so no flight photos. It was in view from roughly 11:53AM to 12:05PM. I then called Josh Emm to get the word out (thanks Josh). Most of that time, the bird was feeding in the midst of a swirling mixed flock of Ring-billed and Bonaparte's Gulls, Shovelers and a few Coots, pressed up against the west edge of the impoundment. At one point, it pulled up on the weedy shore, but was mostly blocked from view, so I couldn't see anything but it's head. It was the only gull with a partial hood. The mantle was darker than the other gulls around it. The bird flapped it's wings at one point, so I could see the mostly clear white underwings, and see that there wasn't any white at the leading edge. The bill was short, thin and black. The hind neck was all white.
I had lost track of the bird and hadn't relocated it by 12:15, at which time I realized I could no longer feel my fingers, so I left. I'll try to find some other photos that aren't too blurry and post them later. Good luck if you give chase.
Mark Johnson
Aberdeen
Tim Carney
Nov 20, 2014, 8:18:59 AM11/20/14
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Ryan Johnson relocated the Franklin's Gull at the Chestertown Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) this morning. See Mark's post for more details.
Tim Carney
Canton, MD
Tim Carney
Canton, MD
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