Lesser Black-backed Gull in Hanover Twp.

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

A beautiful Lesser Black-backed Gull (LBBG) in adult breeding plumage appeared briefly at Melanie Lane Wetlands this afternoon. After landing amidst the roosting Ring-billed Gulls on the ice, the LBBG flew for a short distance landing twenty feet from the Ring-billed Gulls (see the photo above). It then went aloft once more, circling the wetlands many times before gaining altitude and heading north towards Troy Meadows.

This is the only record of Lesser Black-backed Gull in either Morris or Somerset Counties so far in 2015.

Note the long tapered wings in the above photo which contribute to the long wing projection when the species is at rest. This individual has a distinct mirror on P10 (primary no. 10) but none on P9. Howell and Dunn (Gulls of the Americas – Houghton Mifflin 2007) state that 50% of LBBG have a P9 mirror. The photos are taken at a distance in poor lighting, but the reddish orbital ring was discernible in the field.

Other Field Notes

A rainy morning brought out masses of the Icterids that have invaded the mocosocoBirds region during the past week. Rusty Blackbirds made a showing at the Great Swamp NWR.

Pine Siskins continue their loyalty to the locations they have inhabited for the past month, namely, feeding stations they seem to prefer.

2 Common Redpolls were at a feeder in Butler, again (Jim Schlickenrieder).

The 5 Redheads, Greater Scaup hen, American Coots and Hooded Merganser continue at the very little open water on Bertrand Island, Lake Hopatcong (Rob Gallucci).

Killdeer reports were more widespread today in Morris County than any other time recently. The snow continues to melt but many of the Morris lakes are still frozen

Rainy Morning Reverie

eBird Checklists for the mocosocoBirds region may be viewed via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

Finis