While looking for the Franklin's Gull which as reported by Andrew, was not re-found, I observed a small gull flying offshore with a few laughing gulls. It was obviously smaller, with bold white markings on the wings, a bold black triangle on the edge of primaries and a brown back, white tail that was dark tipped. My view kept being obscured as it meandered through the flock. The birds made there way out to some boats that were well off shore and then the entire flock flew out past the boats. I followed the bird the whole time but eventually lost it out past the boats. I was so intent on finding the Franklins Gull that I just kept trying to turn this bird into a Franklins Gull in my head thinking that maybe the Franklins that was seen (pictures had not been posted yet) was an immature as stated and not a 1st winter. But I knew that what I was looking at did not match in any way my recollection of what an immature Franklins Gull looks like. I have never seen Franklins Gull in North America, only in Peru so have no experience with young birds. I mentioned to the person I was with that I think this is a Sabine's Gull. He was not able to get on it. I also mentioned it to Andrew and others that came later to look for it. But at that point the birds were very far out. Nothing else that bird could have been. Size, wing pattern. coloration on the back lead only to one thing, a Juvenile Sabine's Gull. Very sorry for the late post but this bird had flown off and none of the birds that were well off the ocean returned in the hour plus that I stayed. Also this bird was not on the beach, it was seen flying west to east and I just picked it up while scanning the numerous Laughing Gulls that were out there. Another Sabine's was reported about a month ago at a pond not too far from there (I know it was somewhere near Jones Beach) so maybe this bird is local? Anyway I do not think it is a chaseable bird, but keep an eye it for it if you are out there.
-Isaac -- 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/ --
