01 October 2016

Monthly Notables September 2016

  • Sabine's Gull (adult type). Charlotte County, New Brunswick 02 September 2016.
    • Continuing adult from late August, molting into basic plumage.
  • Laughing Gull (2nd cycle type). Santa Barbara County, California. 02 September 2016.
    • Continued from August.
  • Little Gull (juvenile). Douglas County, Colorado. 03 September 2016.
    • Stunning bird with 75%+ juvenile scapulars. Photos.
  • Little Gull (juvenile). Polk County, Iowa. 03 September 2016.
  • Black-legged Kittiwake (juvenile). Virginia Beach County, Virginia. 03 September 2016.
  • Sabine's Gull (juvenile). Marathon County, Wisconsin. 07 September 2016.
  • Sabine's Gull (juvenile). Jackson County, Missouri. 07 September 2016.
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull (3rd cycle type). Coconino County, Arizona. 08 September 2016.
  • Little Gull (juvenile). San Mateo County, California. 11 September 2016.
  • Franklin's Gull (1st cycle). La Mitis County, Quebec. 12 September 2016.
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult type). Imperial County, California. 14 September 2016.
  • Western Gull (2nd cycle). Washington County, Colorado. 16 September 2016.
    • Continuing banded bird from Farallon Islands. Now in complete 2nd basic garb.
  • Western Gull (juvenile). Salt Lake County, Utah. 13 September 2016. Photos.
  • Glaucous Gull (2nd cycle type). Essex County, Ontario. 16 September 2016.
  • Slaty-backed Gull (adult). Pierce County, Washington. 20 September 2016.
  • California Gull (adult). Berrien County, Michigan. 21 September 2016.
  • Laughing Gull (adult type). Morgan County, Colorado. 27 September 2016.
  • Thayer's Gull (juvenile). Grand Forks County, North Dakota. 28 September 2016.
    • A tad early. Still growing outer primaries. Photos.
  • California Gull (2nd cycle). New Haven County, Connecticut. 29 September 2016.
    • Possibly "the" 1st cycle bird seen back in April 2016 - a 1st state record then. Photos. 

Miscellaneous Notes

  • Juvenile Sabine's Gulls made an above-average appearance throughout the western Great Lakes region this month. A handful of adults were recorded as well - not something that occurs annually! 
  • Western Gull is now being reported with more frequency in the interior west. This movement away from the Pacific coast is augmented by the relative increase at the Salton Sea (a high count of 8 this month) and other inland bodies of water. The species is certainly on my radar and I feel it's only a matter of time before one strays to the Great Plains and east to the Mississippi River Valley.
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