The following message re: FRANKLIN'S GULLS and CAVE WALLOWS was just sent
to Massbird. The message may be of interest. Dave Gibson, Chesapeake
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Marshall Iliff <miliff@xxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, Nov 13, 2015 at 12:37 PM
Subject: [MASSBIRD] Franklin's Gull invasion and Cave Swallows TODAY!
To: Massbird <massbird@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Massbird,
For those that aren't watching things at a Regional level, today is a
repeat of a *massive* displacement of Franklin's Gulls eastward from the
upper midwest that happened in Nov 1998. That year many dozens were seen
flying south past Cape May -- today they had 105+ as of 10am. Apparently
there was one in western Mass this morning and there are large numbers
along the Great Lakes today too...Franklin's Gull could occur literally
*anywhere* today.
Check any body of water, any dusk gull roost, and any stream of flyover
gulls today. Coastal flocks of Ring-billeds on beaches up and down the Mass
coast could very easily hold a Franklin's today. Franklin's Gulls can occur
inland as well as on the coast. Two of the ones I saw were feeding with
large Bonaparte's flocks, but anywhere with feeding Ring-billed, Laughing,
or Bonaparte's could well hold a Franklin's today or over the weekend.
In 1998, birds from the similar displacement *mostly* cleared out quickly,
so today, tomorrow, and Sunday will be the key days for these birds. Revere
Beach, Plum Island and Newburyport Harbor, First Encounter Beach, Chatham,
Horseneck Beach, Wachusett and Quabbin Reservoirs, Quincy, and similar
areas with good numbers of Ring-billeds and/or Laughing Gulls are good
options. Obviously the Provincetown aggregations should be watched too!
I went out this morning looking for Franklin's Gull since the weather has
been so conducive to Franklin's Gull displacement recently and since there
had been so many popping up in areas to the west (clocks in Michigan etc.,
loners in CT and ME). I was thrilled to have both my plan and my choice of
location pan out. After finding the two first-winter Franklin's off
Plymouth Rock, along with second-winter Little Gull, I headed to Nelson's
Field where I had a third Franklin's. The flock with the two Franklin's and
the Little Gull flew in minutes later, just after I had steered the Friday
Morning Birders group to Plymouth Rock. Fortunately they returned and were
able to see the nice first-winter on the beach at Nelson Field, giving the
best look of any Franklin's so far today. It was still present when I left
at 11:40.
Also, it should be mentioned that this same weather is IDEAL for CAVE
SWALLOWS. I did not see any today, but Cape May had 250 (!) a few days ago,
had 15+ early today (maybe many more by now), and one was at Pontoosuc Lake
in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., yesterday. There will almost certainly be
birds on the Massachusetts coast today, tomorrow, and Sunday. Check any
swallow carefully and check the eBird map to see areas that have been good
in the past...many of those spots are likely to produce again. Lakes and
fields in the lee of the strong westerlies are good bets, and bridges and
buildings where they might roost are also something to watch for.
http://ebird.org/ebird/map/cavswa?neg=true&env.minX=169.51921174286292&env.minY=-18.135872503251488&env.maxX=7.448899242862922&env.maxY=64.24915749935835&zh=true&gp=false&ev=Z&mr=on&bmo=10&emo=12&yr=all&byr=1900&eyr=2015
Zoom in to see specific points and details.
Best,
Marshall
--
****************************
Marshall J. Iliff
miliff AT aol.com
Westwood, MA
****************************
eBird Project Leader
www.ebird.org
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Ithaca, NY
****************************
