MA - Glaucous Gulls at Turner's Falls

Glaucous Gull (center-left) - adult, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA , December 19th, 2016. 
This behemoth was first noted by Eric Huston on Dec 16th. 

 Glaucous Gull (center) - 1st-cycle, with two Kumlien's Iceland Gulls (3rd-cycle and 1st-cycle) to the left of center. Birds seen towards dusk, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA , December 21st, 2016. 

 The appearance of pale-winged gulls at Turner's Falls is one of the more anticipated events of the winter and, after a smattering of single Kumlien's Iceland Gulls through early December, there was a distinct upswing in gull activity through the weekend and into the current week. A beautiful adult Glaucous Gull, found by Eric Huston on Dec 16th, was the precursor to the appearance of multiple new gulls peaking at three Kumlien's Iceland Gulls (one 3rd-cycle and two 1st-cycles) and two Glaucous Gulls (one adult and one 1st-cycle) on Dec 19th, as well as the continuing adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. So, Turner's Falls has hosted six species of gull on most evenings this week. 

Glaucous Gull (just left of center) - 1st-cycle, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA , December 21st, 2016. 

With most of Barton Cove being frozen, the Turner's Falls power canal has played host to most of the waterfowl in the area including up to 165 Common Mergansers, 90+ Common Goldeneye, a Greater Scaup (from Dec 19th) and a Ring-necked Duck (Dec 22nd). Also of interest, an apparent wintering Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at the power canal on Dec 22nd.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - juv/first-winter, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA , December 22nd, 2016.