I’m at Heckscher now. There was a first year Lesser on field 6 for about ten minutes. Just flew off. Photos.
Bob Lewis. Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 10, 2021, at 2:42 PM, Shaibal Mitra <[email protected]> wrote: > > We spent a short time searching, with no luck. Nobody who was in touch with > me found it either. > > Shai > ________________________________________ > From: Robert Lewis [[email protected]] > Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2021 2:25 PM > To: Shaibal Mitra > Cc: NYSBIRDS ([email protected]) > Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Probable California Gull Heckscher SP, Suffolk, LI > > Any luck with this bird today? > > Bob Lewis > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Jan 9, 2021, at 6:19 PM, Shaibal Mitra <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> This afternoon I saw and photographed a first winter Larus at Field 7 >> Heckscher SP that I think is a good candidate for California Gull--one of >> the most birds on Long Island among elusive abundant, migratory species. >> >> The bird caught my eye by virtue of its face, and it passed the test I've >> applied to so many variant Larus over the decades, "can you see this as a >> Herring Gull?"--I could not. The enormous variability of Herring Gull, in >> combination with its abundance here, makes identification of California Gull >> one of the most difficult challenges on Long Island. >> >> I was in the car, which is an advantage in some ways, but a disadvantage in >> others--such as when it was jumped by car moments later. I saw it only >> briefly and bare-eyed as it flew, but fortunately it landed again nearby. I >> re-oriented the car, studied it through the window-mounted scope, took some >> digi-scoped photos, then posed and answered the question referred to above >> to myself. I texted for reinforcements, but when I looked up the bird was >> gone, never to be seen again today, despite much searching by John Gluth, >> Mike McBrien, and others. >> >> The field marks I noted in the field were its overall smaller than typical >> HERG size; small and slight bill which was pink-based with sharply >> demarcated black tip; all-black tail; seemingly less extensive/obvious pale >> panel in inner primaries when it flew the first time; and solidly dark bases >> to the greater coverts (contra those of same-aged HERG, checked in >> reference, which were spangled up as high as I could see). >> >> I'm writing up a detailed description but wanted to get word and photos out >> for potential follow-up tomorrow: >> >> https://flic.kr/p/2kqGv5V >> >> Shai Mitra >> Bay Shore >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> NYSbirds-L List Info: >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >> >> ARCHIVES: >> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html >> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L >> 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >> >> -- >> > > > -- > > NYSbirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L > 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
