Sunday, January 31, 2016

MA - a little 'gulling' brings fresh Iceland Gull

Kumlien's Iceland Gull - first-winter, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. January 30th, 2016.

Saturday afternoon (01/30) saw exceedingly mild temperatures again but there was still plenty of ice at Barton Cove resulting in a nice collection of several hundred gulls resting off Unity Park in Turner's Falls. I spent the best part of a pleasant hour sorting through the gulls which were subject to frequent flushing by the local Bald Eagles. Despite this minor niggle, I enjoyed good close views a new Kumlien's Iceland Gull as well as the ever present Lesser Black-backed Gull, and what I thought may have been a second or third cycle Nelson's Gull. Beyond that, the flock was composed almost entirely of Herring Gulls with very few Great Black-backed Gulls present.


Lesser Black-backed Gull - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. January 30th, 2016.




Kumlien's Iceland Gull - first-winter, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. January 30th, 2016.
All images refer to the same individual bird. 

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