Today a couple of observers reported a 1 CY GLAUCOUS GULL from the parking lot at ocean-end of the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays (Suffolk Co.). A handsome bird for sure but what's really fascinating is that it carries a metal band on the right leg. With luck, someone will be able to read the band in the field or from photos so we can find out the history of the bird.
I'm not aware of any other band recoveries for this species in New York State. My assumption would be that it was banded as a chick in Nunavut (Canadian High Arctic) but for once we have a chance to know for sure. Maybe we will be surprised. Readers may remember a Harlequin Duck photographed by Derek Rogers in early January 2018 at the inlet itself, which most unexpectedly turned out to be from Montana and thus from the separate western population. https://blog.nature.org/science/2018/03/26/a-harlequin-ducks-long-cross-country-migration/ If anyone is successful in reading part or all of the band numbers for the Glaucous Gull please submit the info to the Bird Banding Lab and share their response with the list. It's possible that input from multiple observers will be required to get a complete number. -- Angus Wilson, New York City -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
