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)
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
I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event.
Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation
adult Little Gull flying north with Bonaparte's Gulls ...
["adult in breeding plumage" i.e. Black head, and black under side of the wings;
and no white flash on the upper side of the wings,
thus eliminating Bonaparte's Gull and the larger Black-headed Gull.]
[In DIRECT comparison to Bonaparte's, a smaller size than Bonaparte's.]
06:40-08:00 ...
... hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls streaming north at various distances from shore...
undoubtedly many many more Bonaparte's were migrating off the east side of Grand Isle.
IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different?
Unique. Under-wing black, unlike partial black under-wing of Black-headed Gull.
No black on trailing edge of upper wing.
No white upper wing flash as with Bonaparte's and 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
