ML53575481

Age and sex

Immature Unknown sex - X

Observation details

Rare but regular. Initially detected the bird in flight over Sagaponack Pond where it eventually landed among a group of mostly Ring-billed Gulls. Second year bird but in formative plumage; similar to Bonaparte's Gull but slightly larger with reddish/orange bill and smudgy black tip with orange legs. Dark primaries on underwing with white wedge pattern developing along leading edge of upperwing. White tail with thin black edge. The bird had a faint but complete hood with the typical more prominent dark markings behind and above eye. Buoyant "2-cycle gull-like" flight. The bird was mostly preening and picking about for food scraps along the flats. At one point it flew off to the north with some Ring-billed Gulls and took to and extremely high, circling flight. After about 5 minutes the gull descended back onto the flats to roost. The Black-headed Gull was the only 2-cycle gull detected (no Bonies). Photos attached.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

Lens

300.0 mm f/4.0

ISO

400

Focal length

420 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/2000 sec

Dimensions

3075 pixels x 2050 pixels

Original file size

3.03 MB