Started at Robert Moses for a chance at finding a Franklin's Gull but no luck. After birding the area I decided to make a run to Dune Road. Using my van as wind break at Tiana Beach I located my bird, a lifer for me. Smaller and mantle lighter than what I was expecting. Adult bird with three other Laughing Gulls moving east to west. Soon after the four birds moved on, I found another small group of Laughing Gulls. Hopes were high for another Franklin's but none were to be found. 50+ laughing Gulls moved by during the next 20 minutes. Good movement of Gannets along the ocean. After reviews of photos of Franklin's Gulls the bird I had was on the lighter side but not as light as some of the photos.
Had a total of 4 Merlins and 2 Peregrines Ocean Parkway and 6 Merlins and 3 Peregrines Dune Rd. Also had two Snow Buntings in the parking lot at Tiana Beach. Jim Clinton -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
