Monthly Notables May 2015

May 2015

• Slaty-backed Gull (adult). Wayne County, Michigan.02 May 2015.
• Michigan state has earned the "Slaty-backed Crown" of the interior. I can't think of any other state outside of California and Alaska where this species has been recorded with such frequency in the last couple of years.
• Franklin's Gulls (4 adults). Hawaii County, Hawaii. 03 May 2015.
• Laughing Gull (adult). San Mateo County, California. 04 May 2015.
• Thayer's Gull (1st cycle). Valley County, Montana. 04 May 2015.
• Slaty-backed Gull (adult - continuing). Pierce County, Washington. 06 May 2015.
• California Gull (2nd cycle). Point Pelee, Ontario. 12 May 2015.
• Great Black-backed Gulls (7). Lake County, Indiana. 17 May 2015.
• May high count for Indiana.
• Kelp Gull (adult type). San Mateo County, California. 20 May 2015.
• First state record. Presumably, this same individual was relocated on the Farallon Islands on 24 May 2015.
• Laughing x Ring-billed Hybrid (adults - 2). Cook County, Illinois. 22, 24 May 2015.
• Seen two days apart - photos confirm two different individuals. 
• Franklin's Gull (adult). Kings County, New York. 24 May 2015.
• Perhaps the most intriguing highlight this month is a video by Issac Grant that documents this adult Franklin's Gull mounting, and copulating with, an adult Laughing Gull.
• Black-headed Gull (1st cycle). Monroe County, Michigan. 29 May 2015.
• Laughing Gull (2 adult types). Manitowoc, Wisconsin. 31 May 2015.