MA - Kumlien's and Glaucous Gulls, Gill

Kumlien's (Iceland) Gull - first-cycle, Riverview Drive, Barton Cove, Gill, MA. January 29th, 2012.

 

Kumlien's (Iceland) Gull - first-cycle, Riverview Drive, Barton Cove, Gill, MA. January 29th, 2012. 

Kumlien's (Iceland) Gulls - first-cycles (bottom right and top left), Riverview Drive, Barton Cove, Gill, MA. January 29th, 2012. 

This evening (January 29th) saw a distinct improvement in gull diversity at Barton Cove in Gill. A modest group of gulls gathered on the ice just off Riverview Drive. As on so many occasions, the initial impression wasn't too promising - less than 400 gulls seemingly comprising of American Herring, Great Black-backed and Ring-billed Gulls. Before too long however, I was enjoying my first Kumlien's (Iceland) Gulls of the year. The more I searched, the more I found. By 5pm I'd tallied four first-cycle Kumlien's, three Lesser Black-backed (one adult, two first-cycle) and a first-cycle Glaucous Gull, not too shabby for a relatively 'balmy' Sunday afternoon in January. 

 Glaucous Gull (center) - first-cycle, Riverview Drive, Barton Cove, Gill, MA. January 29th, 2012.



Larids at Barton Cove. The entire gull flock in one shot with six species present when the image was taken.

A few waterfowl were also on the cove including several Common Goldeneyes and Common Mergansers and, perhaps surprisngly for late January, two Ring-necked Ducks and a pair of Northern Pintail. 

JPS