Monthly Notables November 2020

 Sightings:

• California Gull (2nd cycle). Sangamon County, Illinois. 04 November 2020.
• Continuing from June 2020.
• Franklin's Gull (adult type). Hancock County, Maine. 05 November 2020.
• 1st/2nd County Record.
• Glaucous-winged Gull (1st cycle). Lewis & Clark County, Montana. 05 November 2020.
• Laughing Gull (1st cycle). Maricopa County, Arizona. 05 November 2020.
• Little Gull (1st cycle). Bayfield/Ashland County, Wisconsin. 05/08 November 2020.
• Little Gull (1st cycle). San Luis Obispo County, California. 06 November 2020.
• Glaucous Gull (1st cycle). Deschutes County, Oregon. 07 November 2020.
• 1st County Record. 
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (1st cycle). Kern County, California. 07 November 2020.
• 4/5th County Record. First record locally in the Mojave Desert portion of Kern.
• Laughing Gull (subadult). Branch County, Michigan. 07 November 2020.
• 1st County Record. 
• Black-legged Kittiwake (2nd cycle). Larimer/Weld County, Colorado. 11/12 November 2020.
• Glaucous Gull (1st cycle). Owyhee County, Idaho. 11 November 2020.
• California Gull (adult). Douglas County, Wisconsin. 14 November 2020. 
• Slaty-backed Gull (adult). Monterey County, California. 19 November 2020.
• California Gull (3rd cycle). Brazoria County, Texas. 20 November 202. 
• Heermann's Gull (2nd cycle type). Washoe County, Nevada. 20 November 2020.
• Heermann's Gull (3rd cycle). Taylor County, Texas. 21 November 2020.
• Heermann's Gull (2nd cycle). Volusia County, Florida. 21 November 2020.
• Presumably the same waif that has navigated Florida's coasts since August 2019.
• Great Black-backed Gull (adult). Pueblo County, Colorado. 22 November 2020.
• Believed to be the same individual returning here for the 27th consecutive winter.
• Sabine's Gull (1st cycle). Brevard County, Florida. 22 November 2020.
• Glaucuos-winged Gull (2nd cycle). Dakota County, Minnesota. 22 November 2020.
• 6th State Record. 2nd County Record.
• Slaty-backed Gull (adult type). Peel & Toronto County, Ontario. 07/22 November 2020.
• Continuing locally since September 2020.
• Mew Gull (adult). Niagara/Brant County, Ontario. 24 November 2020.
• Mew Gull (adult). Tarrant County, Texas. 25 November 2020.
• Mew Gull (adult type). Hamilton County, Ontario. 26 November 2020.
• Slaty-backed Gull (adult). Brainard Ontario. 27 November 2020.
• Iceland Gull (1st cycle). Stark County, Ohio. 27 November 2020.
• Apparent nominate glaucoides. 
• California Gull (adult). Galveston County, Texas. 29 November 2020.

Notes:

• The adult Great Black-backed Gull that winters in Pueblo County, Colorado returned late this month for the 29th consecutive year. This would constitute a longevity record for the species in North America, but alas, it lives without a leg band. The official longevity record of a known-age Great Black-backed Gull in North America is 26 years 9 months.

November 2020 Quiz

 

Indiana. May.

Age: A large four-year gull with two generations of primaries showing. Primary replacement well underway. The 5 inner primaries are new, 2nd generation feathers, and thus this individual is in its 2nd molt cycle. All secondaries are 1st basic.

Identification: Overall the head, body and uppertail are very white for a four-year gull in early 2nd cycle. The thin tailband and overall peppered plumage aspect are reminiscent of Great Black-backed gull. The ginormous bill and stealth-bomber body with long thick legs all help identify this as a Great Black-backed Gull. 

Indeed, the field-readable leg band "Black 3U4" trace this bird back to its natal colony of Appledore Island in Maine. More on this individual here. 

Monthly Notables October 2020

 Sightings:

• Little Gull (1st cycle). Nanaimo District, British Columbia. 02 October 2020.
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (2nd cycle type). Pierce County, Washington. 02 October 2020.
• Slaty-backed Gull (adult). Toronto County, Ontario. 03-14 October 2020.
• Same individual from nearby Mississauga County from September 2020.
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult). Peace River District, British Columbia. 06 October 2020.
• Heermann's Gull (3rd cycle). Pima County, Arizona. 07 October 2020.
• Heermann's Gull (1st cycle). Lake County, Montana. 11 October 2020.
• 2nd State Record.
• Ross's Gull (adult). Kenai Peninsula County, Alaska. 16 October 2020.
• Apparent 2nd Record for the Kenai Peninsula.
• Little Gull (adult). Kitsap County, Washington. 16 October 2020.
• Laughing Gull (1st cycle). St Joseph County, Michigan. 17 October 2020.
• Black-legged Kittiwake (adult). North Interlake Area County, Manitoba. 17 October 2020.
• California Gull (1st cycle). Anchorage County, Alaska. 17 October 2020.
• California Gull (3rd cycle). Nome County, Alaska. 17 October 2020.
• Apparent 1st Record for Bering Sea region.
• California Gull (adult). Jefferson County, Wisconsin. 19 October 2020.
• Slaty-backed Gull (adult). Benton County, Washington. 19 October 2020.
• Presumably a returning bird since winter of 2016.
• Sabine's Gull (1st cycle). Ashland County, Wisconsin. 20 October 2020.
• 1st County Record.
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (ad., 2nd cycle). Wasco County, Oregon. 20 October 2020.
• Heermann's Gull (2nd cycle). Sarasota County, Florida, 21 October 2020. 21 October 2020.
• Black-headed Gull (adult). Chatham-Kent County, Ontario. 23 October 2020.
• Black-tailed Gull (adult). San Francisco County, California. 23 October 2020.
• Black-legged Kittiwake (juvenile). Clinton County, Iowa. 25 October 2020.
• Heermann's Gull (3rd cycle). Maricopa County, Arizona. 25 October 2020.
• Little Gull (1st cycle). Grundy County, Illinois. 26 October 2020.
• Little Gull (2nd cycle). Miami County, Kansas. 26 October 2020.
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult). Lincoln County, Oregon. 26 October 2020.
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (4th cycle type). Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon County, Alaska. 27 October 2020. 
• Slaty-backed Gull (adult). Clallam County, Washington. 28 October 2020.

Notes:

• 212 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were counted in Findlay, Ohio, on 17 October 2020. Guatam Apte and Jerald Reb reported approximately 40% of the flock consisted of adult type birds. This count is without question a new high for Lessers recorded anywhere away from the Atlantic.
• On 27 October, Amy Courtney found a subadult Lesser Black-backed Gull in Hoonah, Alaska. Several traits suggest an Asian taxon, but ruling out a European form is proving difficult. 
• On 22 October, Christopher Coxson photographed a 1st cycle Iceland Gull in British Columbia that appears to be from the nominate subspecies, L g. glaucoides.