MA - more on the Turner's Falls gulls

Iceland Gull (center) - adult (kumlieni),Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. February 17th, 2018. 

A beautiful clean-headed, dark-eyed adult - a new arrival to the gull show at Turner's. 

On Saturday February 17th I returned to the Turner's Falls power canal where I ran into Eric Huston birding with his parents who were visiting from Fort Collins. We enjoyed mild 'pre-storm' conditions, complete cloud cover and little wind. The gulls looked settled on the ice with smaller numbers trickling in from the NW throughout the evening. The volume of birds present was much reduced from the 15th, with only about 450 birds resting on the ice but again the variety was good with the following notables;

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1, adult continuing.

Glaucous Gull - 1, first-cycle with a damaged right leg, continuing from the 15th.

Iceland Gull (kumlieni) - adult ( lower right), with first-cycle Glaucous Gull ( extreme left).  Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. February 17th, 2018. 

Iceland Gull (kumlieni) - 8, composed of 5 first-cycle, 2 second-cycle and 1 adult. The adult was a new arrival but neither of the adults present on the 15th could be found this evening.

Iceland Gull (kumlieni) - second-cycle (center). Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. February 17th, 2018. 

Initially I took this bird to be third-cycle but a after a couple of quick references, I'm now sure it's a second-cycle. . 

Also of note, a small but interesting passage of Canada Geese heading north without showing any interest in dropping into the power canal suggesting the start of a light migration.