This past Sunday I posted some material on the normal range of Gray-hooded Gull in South America. I pointed out that the range map in Howell and Dunn Gulls of the Americas (2007), which some were relying on was in fact wrong. I reported that I had seen flocks of the species on the north coast of South America on several occasions and had seen the species on the coast of the Brazilian state of Ceara in the company of Laughing Gulls (which the range map in Gulls of the Americas also indicates should not be there). I have also seen Gray-hooded Gull on the coast of Maranhao further to the northwest on the South American coast. I also pointed out that the books Seabirds: An Identification Guide (1983) by Peter Harrison and A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil (2009) by Per van Perlo both show Gray-hooded Gulls on the north coast of South America. Since then I have found that All the Birds of Brazil: An Identification Guide by Deodata Souza (published in Brazil in both Portuguese and English language editions) also shows those areas as part of the range of Gray-hooded Gull.
This morning I heard from two Brazilian colleagues, Alberto Campos and Weber Girão who have conducted bird surveys of the Ceara coast for a local NGO. Alberto commented we have LOTS of Gray-hooded Gulls along the coast of Ceará, and occasionally mature and immature Laughing Gulls. They sent along the following links to range maps for the two species (NOTE: the text at the sites is in Portuguese). Grey-hooded Gull <http://wikiaves.com.br/mapaRegistros_gaivota-de-cabeca-cinza> http://wikiaves.com.br/mapaRegistros_gaivota-de-cabeca-cinza Laughing Gull <http://wikiaves.com.br/mapaRegistros_gaivota-alegre> http://wikiaves.com.br/mapaRegistros_gaivota-alegre All of this establishes that Gray-hooded Gull is a long distance migrant in South America and does occur with Laughing Gulls when that species is in South America in the non-breeding season. As for the question of an established pattern of vagrancy, as has already been pointed out, there is a previous, well-documented record of Gray-hooded Gull in Florida. How can a pattern be established if the initial records are discounted because there are no previous records? Also based, purely on normal range, Kelp Gull is a far less likely vagrant from South America than Gray-hooded Gull. A few years ago NYSARC added Western Gull to the New York State list based on a bird photographed on a pelagic trip. Given that that species normal range doesnt include the Atlantic Ocean and is generally rare more than a few miles inland on the Pacific coast of North America, it would seem to be a far less likely candidate for a natural occurrence on the Atlantic Coast of North America than Gray-hooded Gull. My apologies for the length of this post. Joe DiCostanzo _____ From: bounce-37883411-3714...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-37883411-3714...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Robert Lewis Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 11:05 AM To: NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu Subject: [nysbirds-l] nysbirds: Gray-hooded Gull at Coney Island: origin All, I am a bit surprised that the origin of this bird has not been discussed much. With people coming from a long distance, I think it ought to be mentioned more than it has been. Has this bird arrived here on its own, or was it assisted? How can we know? Many people are concerned with listing questions, so the issue of origin is important to them. Of course, many others are not, so it may be less important to them. Scientifically, it is an interesting question. The email below from Ken Gale suggests that it accompanied some Laughing Gulls from Brazil. That is certainly possible. But it has evidently never happened before, anywhere on the heavily birded East coast. Where is the pattern of vagrancy for this species? Is not a ship-assist quite likely? I am reminded of two other very rare species of gulls that first visited eastern North America in the last fifteen years or so: Black-tailed Gull and Kelp Gull. Both species had previously established vagrancy patterns that made their appearance in eastern North America at least reasonable. Here is a link to the Maryland records committee decision (favorable) on the famous Kelp Gull at Sandgates in southern Maryland: <http://www.mdbirds.org/mddcrc/pdf/kegudec.pdf> http://www.mdbirds.org/mddcrc/pdf/kegudec.pdf I don't presume to know the answer in the present case of the Grey-hooded Gull. I too made the trek to Coney Island to see it. But it was for me a "mere" odious drive through Queens of an hour. Some people are evidently coming from much farther. Bob Lewis Sleepy Hollow NY ________________________________ From: " <mailto:nuffsaid%40riseup.net> nuffs...@riseup.net" < <mailto:nuffsaid%40riseup.net> nuffs...@riseup.net> To: eBirdsNYC < <mailto:ebirdsnyc%40yahoogroups.com> ebirds...@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2011 9:34 PM Subject: Re: [ebirdsnyc] Gray-hooded Gull at Coney Island ...... I spoke with someone named Angus who thinks the bird came up with Laughing Gulls when they returned from their wintering grounds in South America and might very well stay until the Laughing Gulls fly south in September. Happy bird-day, Ken Ken Gale -- NYSbirds-L List Info: <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> Mail Archive <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> Please submit your observations to <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/> eBird! -- -- 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/ --
