Kumlien's Gulls - Turner's Falls 12/07

Numbers of Kumlien's Iceland Gulls are increasing locally with at least four at Barton Cove this afternoon. In fact, each recent visit to Turner's Falls has produced at least one bird (three last Sunday Nov 30th), either on Baton Cove or on the power canal, and to date all have been first-cycle birds. On the other hand, numbers of other large gulls remain rather low at Turner's with a combined total of less than 150 American Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls roosting at Barton Cove so far this month. Quite a contrast to the Windsor Landfill in Connecticut last week which harbored up to 5,000 large gulls but had relatively few of the scarcer species (2 Glaucous, 1 Kumlien's Iceland and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls). At Barton Cove, the bulk of the gull flock is still composed of Ring-billed Gulls with about 600 present most evenings.

A few other notes for the weekend. Yesterday, in addition to the Cackling Goose on the power canal, one Kumlien's Iceland and 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, plus 45 Hooded Mergansers at Barton Cove. Today, a nice little yard surprise in Amherst in the form of a late Ruby-crowned Kinglet off the rear balcony around noon. Also, 2 White-throated Sparrows and about 20 Junocs present all day.

Lesser Black-backed Gull - distant adult, Barton Cove from Gill. 12/06/08.

Hooded Mergansers - Nice flock of 45 present on Barton Cove, 12/06/08.