01 July 2022

June 2022 Monthly Notables

Sightings:

  • Sabine's Gull (adult). Beaverhead County, Montana. 01 June 2022.
  • Franklin's Gull (adult). Kent County, New Brunswick. 02 June 2022.
  • Ring-billed Gull (adult). Yukon County, Yukon. 02 June 2022.
  • Ross's Gull (adult). North Slope County, Alaska. 02 June 2022*.
  • Kamchatka Gull (1st cycle). Aleutians West County, Alaska. 02 June 2022.
    • Continuing from late May 2022.
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull (3 adult types). Baffin County, Nunavut. 04 June 2022*.
  • Ivory Gull (adult). Minganie County, Quebec. 05 June 2022.
  • California Gull (adult). Lake County, Ohio. 05 June 2022.
    • Small, dark individual, suggesting nominate californicus.
  • Laughing Gull (adult). Del Norte County, California. 07 June 2022. 
  • Black-headed Gull (1st cycle). Queens County, New York. 07 June 2022.
  • Thayer's Gull (1st cycle). Gambell, Alaska. 08 June 2022.
  • Slaty-backed Gull (adult & 4th cycle). Inuvik County, Northwest Territories. 10 June 2022.
  • Heermann's Gull (4th cycle). Beaufort County, South Carolina. 11 June 2022. 
    • Atlantic Coast bird now undergoing its 4th prebasic molt (p1-p2 growing, p3 dropped).
  • Black-headed Gull (2nd cycle). Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. 12 June 2022.
  • Thayer's Gull (2nd cycle). Lincoln County, Oregon. 12 June 2022.
    • Latest Spring record, and only 2nd for June. Start of 2nd prebasic molt.
  • Laughing Gull (adult). Churchill & Northern Manitoba County, Manitoba. 19 June 2022.
  • Short-billed Gull (adult). Churchill & Northern Manitoba County, Manitoba. 19 June 2022.
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull (2nd cycle). Beaverhead County, Montana. 19 June 2022.
    • 1st Summer record.
  • California Gull (4th cycle). Sangamon County, Illinois. 19 June 2022.
    • Likely a returning bird, undergoing 4th prebasic molt.
  • Red-legged Kittiwake (2 adults). Aleutians West County, Alaska. 21 June 2022.
  • Little Gull (1st cycle). Santa Cruz County, California. 22 June 2022.
    • Continuing from previous month. Still will all juvenile flight feathers.
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull (5 - 2nd cycles). Jefferson County, Louisiana. 24 June 2022. 
  • Little Gull (9 adults). Churchill & Northern Manitoba County, Manitoba. 24 June 2022*.
  • Ross's Gull (1st cycle). North Slope County, Alaska. 25 June 2022.
  • Slaty-backed Gull (adult & 2nd cycle). Utqiagvik, Alaska. 27 June 2022.
  • Glaucous-winged Gull (2nd cycle). Utqiagvik, Alaska. 27 June 2022.
  • Little Gull (3rd cycle). Arnold's Cove, Newfoundland. 29 June 2022.

Notes:

1) The adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls reported in Iqaluit, Nunavut is part of a growing trend from the last three breeding seasons (2020-2022). Whether these are migrants stopping over, nonbreeding loafers, or birds "possibly" attempting to breed locally remains to be seen. A maximum of 6 were reported on 02 June 2022.

2) At least 9 adult Little Gulls were reported in Churchill, Manitoba throughout the month, suggesting they may be back breeding at this historic stronghold. 

3) Late winter conditions in Utqiagvik this year helped reel in at least 2 Ross's Gulls (ad. & 1st C). The species has become rare here in spring/summer in recent years due to increased ice melt.