MA - gull evening at Turner's - 03/06

Unfortunately for me, the moments when I can get down to the Turner's Falls gull roost are few and between nowadays. I've managed just a handful of sessions this winter but have had some interesting results. Last Thursday evening (03/06) curiosity got the better of me and Matan and I had a casual drive down to the power canal to see what (if anything) might be roosting there. On arrival about 100 large gulls were present and those numbers built up to a conservation estimate of 900 birds over the next 45 minutes. Between binoculars (but alas no scope), camera and a very active six-year old who wanted to play in the freezing water (!!) I found fantastic numbers of Kumlien's (Iceland) Gulls, in fact a personal high count with at least 13 birds present. All but two were in first-cycle plumage, the other two being second-cycle birds. The large numbers of adults that I'd recorded in early January were not present but with above average numbers of other large gulls present, I couldn't help but wonder if many of these, including the Kumlien's were migrants heading north?

Also present, 9 Greater Scaup and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull but no sign of the Red-breasted Merganser see early that same morning.

Kumlien's Gulls - two first-cycle birds, the right most bird being fairly typical but the bird on the left being is much darker with dark primaries, dark uppertail and a scaly appearance to the scapulars,and as such, has more than a passing resemblance to first-cycle Thayer's Gull.
Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 6th, 2014.

Kumlien's Gull - dark first-cycle (center right). Same bird as above with strong resemblance to
first-cycle Thayer's Gull. Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 6th, 2014.

Lesser Black-backed Gull - adult with American Herring Gulls. 

Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 6th, 2014.

Kumlien's Gull - first-cycle with dark centered primaries and coarse wavy markings across the scapulars.

Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 6th, 2014.

Kumlien's Gull - darker first-cycle with dark primaries, and again,
coarse wavy markings across the scapulars. Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 6th, 2014.

Kumlien's Gull - fairly pale, petite second-cycle bird (center) with gray mantle/scapular feathers appearing.

 Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 6th, 2014.

Kumlien's Gull - fairy typical first-cycle (center). Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 6th, 2014.

Kumlien's Gulls - two first-cycle birds, right most bird being pale but the bird on the left
 is much darker with dark outer primaries, and again somewhat resembling first-cycle Thayer's Gull. 

Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 6th, 2014.

Kumlien's Gull - pale first-cycle bird with whitish primaries among American Herring Gulls. 

Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 6th, 2014.