October 2022 Monthly Notables

Sightings: 

• California Gull (adult). Calvert County, Maryland. 01 October 2022.
• California Gull (2nd cycle). Clinton County, Illinois. 01 October 2022.
• Heermann's Gull (2nd cycle). Baltimore County, Maryland. 02 October 2022.
• Continuing.
• Yellow-footed Gull (2nd cycle). Mohave County, Arizona. 05 October 2022.
• 3rd State Record. Likely the same individual from Lake Mead (NV) last month.
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult). Lincoln County, Oregon. 06 October 2022.
• Great Black-backed Gull (adult). Keith County, Nebraska. 06 October 2022.
• Ivory Gull (juvenile). North Slope County, Alaska. 10 October 2022.
• Lesser Black-backed Gulls (3 juveniles). San Miguel County, New Mexico. 11 October 2022.
• Apparent state high count for this date.
• Black-headed Gull (ad. & 1st cycle). Queens County, New York. 12 October 2022.
• Continuing adult joined by a newly arrived 1st cycle.
• Franklin's Gulls (203 - various ages). Hancock County, Mississippi. 13 October 2022.
• Apparent high count for coastal MS.
• Little Gull (adult). Metro Vancouver District, British Columbia. 14 October 2022.
• Glaucous-winged Gull (1st cycle). Elko County, Nevada. 14 October 2022.
• Heermann's Gull (4th cycle). Volusia County, Florida. 16 October 2022.
• Continuing "Atlantic" Coast bird, now in 4th basic plumage.
• Franklin's Gull (2nd cycle type). Chatham County, North Carolina. 17 October 2022.
• Slaty-backed Gull (adult). Benton County, Washington. 18 October 2022.
• Returning bird since at least 2016.
• Black-headed Gull (adult). New Haven County, Connecticut. 19 October 2022.
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (3rd cycle). Saskatoon County, Saskatchewan. 20 October 2022.
• Sabine's Gull (juvenile). Kewaunee County, Wisconsin. 25 October 2022.
• Swallow-tailed Gull (adult). San Diego County, California. 25 October 2022.
• 4th State Record.
• Kumlien's Gull (adult). Central Okanagen District. British Columbia. 26 October 2022.
• Ross's Gull (1st cycle). Capital District, British Columbia. 27 October 2022.
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult). Clallam County, Washington. 28 October 2022.
• Presumably a returning individual for the 2nd year.
• Ross's Gull (1st cycle). Bruce County, Ontario. 30 October 2022.
• Photos strongly suggest this species, although remains unconfirmed.

Notes:

1. Approximately 10,000 Black-legged Kittiwakes were recorded migrating west from Point Barrow on 11 October 2022. These numbers are not typical here, to say the least. See Alex Lamoreaux's report for details. 16 juvenile Thayer's Gulls were also reported. In most years 1-2 may be reported here at the height of Fall migration.

2. A nice showing of 630 Ross's Gulls was recorded at Point Barrow on 16 October 2022. 

October 2022 Quiz

 

January. Florida.

Age: The mottled brown upperparts, all-black bill, and apparent pointed primary tips all suggest a 1st cycle belonging to a four-year species. 

Identification: Note first the underparts have an obvious pale base color. This combined with the creamy head, long, straight black bill, and long-winged appearance, make for a different look than the expected Herring Gull. American Herring typically has warmer brown underparts, more head streaking and doesn't appear as svelte in the rear. Great Black-backed has a bulkier body, thicker bill, more checkered wing coverts with a peppered black-and-white plumage aspect. Consider the dark bases to the outer greater coverts, complemented by adjacent long plain edges. These plain feathers are characteristic of Lesser Black-backed Gull. The darker post-juvenile scapulars (1st alternate) with grayish anchors also support Lesser black-backed Gull, which is what our October Quiz bird is.