Nickerson Beach 13 June. A group of about 25 gulls were on the beach early this morning consisting of several adult Great Black-backed Gulls, a breeding plumage LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (very dark, almost the same color as its larger neighbors with a bright almost orange yellow bill that was much more striking in color than its bright yellow legs), several additional 2nd year Lesser and the balance, immature of Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls.
Many of the immature were typical summer non descript bleached and molting birds, the kind most birders don't bother with and with good reason. But, including in this group was one I cannot ID. Photos have been disbursed for comment and help. Stay tuned. If you go, look very carefully at the immature gulls. There may be a surprise waiting. I got distracted by the gulls . I came for the nesting birds. The TERN/ SKIMMER colonies are in full swing with at least 150 pair of SKIMMERS and at least half as many COMMON TERNS, a score of AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS; all milling around on the ground and in the air. Birds are now sitting on eggs. I did not see any young skimmers or terns, yet. Sy Schiff -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
