Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species
Per eBird: July-December LIGU sightings by this observer at this same location.
1996-97, 2003-2019, 180+ Little Gulls. Maximum of 4 on one day.
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My Spring-migrant Little Gulls observed off the west shore at home.
(from ebird checklists) prior to 2017.
S4934225 03 May 2009 8:00 AM 18 Bonaparte's Gull; 2 Little Gull
S6448074 17 May 2010 .........17 Bonaparte's Gull; 1 Little Gull
S18232254 05 May 2014 6:15-8:05 [many] Bonaparte's; 1 Little Gull
S18248138 06 May 2014 6:30-8:00 0 Bonaparte's Gull; 1 Little Gull
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I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event.
Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation
Second-year* Little Gull, foraging northward not far from shore,
dropping and diving to lake surface at times for food items.
*[added: "second year" i.e. limited black on primaries; light wing coverts below, etc.]
Viewed through spotting scope.
Fluttering by — flight characteristic of Little Gull.
Body size and shape of Little Gull. Wing shape of Little Gull.
Small black beak. Pink legs.
Plumage of Little Gull**, including a partial hood at rear of head.
**[no white upper wing flash per Bonaparte's/Black-headed Gulls]
Wing in advanced-molt (and faded above).
Some retrices retained a black tip [as per second year gull].
IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different?
no white upper wing flash per Bonaparte's Gulls or larger Black-headed Gulls
Other Notes & Comments
Map of Little Gull records on eBird for May-June, All Years.
https://tinyurl.com/y6dysrxq
Note the multiple records in the Richelieu and Montreal areas
after zeroing in on the map.
Same as during fall migration, Little Gulls seem to be regular
Spring migrants through the Hudson/Champlain/Richelieu corridor,
not really qualifying as an "out-of-season" species during Spring.
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My Spring-migrant Little Gulls observed off the west shore at home.
(from ebird checklists) as of 2019.
S4934225 03 May 2009 8:00 AM 18 Bonaparte's Gull; 2 Little Gull
S6448074 17 May 2010 .........17 Bonaparte's Gull; 1 Little Gull
S18232254 05 May 2014 6:15-8:05 [many] Bonaparte's; 1 Little Gull
S18248138 06 May 2014 6:30-8:00 0 Bonaparte's Gull; 1 Little Gull
S37176406 27 May 2017 6:55 AM 0 Bonaparte's Gull; 1 Little Gull
S45502486 09 May 2018 5:55 AM 36 Bonaparte's Gull; 1 Little Gull
S55994777 08 May 2019 6:40-8: 350-500+ Bonaparte's; 1 Little Gull
