ML382415091

Age and sex

Adult, Unknown sex - 1

Observation details

*Rare. Tiny gull, smaller than Bonaparte's (about 3/4 size of BOGU), with all white primaries and a paler mantle. Very tiny bill. When it flew the dark underwings were visible, and the wings looked shorter and less pointed than BOGU. When its wings were folded, the dark patch on the underwing was visible on the opposite wing. Smudgy nape, and small black ear patch. Seen north of the yacht clubs, hanging out with Bonaparte's Gulls. At first it was on the beach roosting and swimming, but at one point the entire flock flushed when some Herring and Ring-billed Gulls came down from further up the beach. The Little Gull flew out about 50 feet into the water, for a few minutes, but later it flew out into the bay and we could not re-find it. There are a few large flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls in the general area in the last few days and weeks. Lifer! First Norfolk County record on eBird. After reviewing the photos it appears to me that this is a different bird than the ones seen at Revere Beach and Kings Beach recently. This bird is showing no black spots on the primaries, and the cheek patch on the left side of the head is quite compact and far down the face.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

ISO

800

Focal length

600 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/6400 sec

Dimensions

5568 pixels x 3712 pixels

Original file size

9.17 MB