Among the many birds attending the big wedding yesterday, July 31, there was a breeding "nuptial" plumaged Bonaparte's Gull on the Hudson River seen from Ulster Landing Park (Post Park) just north of Kingston. While I can't safely rule out Laughing Gull from afar, it had the black hood, flew like a Bonaparte's, and did not come in to join other gulls feeding on the bread thrown from shore as Laughing Gulls are wont to do. Also in the area at least 12 Great Egrets, Bald Eagle, Osprey, a Green Heron (which I find to be scarce), and a Gresser Yellowlegs (it was seen flying and heard calling "tew tew tew" as it flew. I recorded it as a Greater, though again I can't safely rule out Lesser because they both utter the three-note call on occasion).
Frank Murphy Saugerties, NY Ulster County (the greener county) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
