Lesser Black-backed Gull and others, Marco Island

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Posted by Steve Carbol on 22:40:11 09/22/04

Species of Note: Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus
Observed: Wednesday, September 22, 2004, 11:50 AM
Tigertail Beach
400 Hernando Dr.
Marco Island, FL 34145

I observed an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull still mostly in definitive alternate ("breeding") plumage and just beginning to exhibit a few streaks of definitive basic ("nonbreeding" or "winter") plumage on its hind-crown today at Marco Island's Tigertail Beach. The bird stood amid a large mixed flock Laughing Gulls smattered with Sandwich and Royal Terns, Black Skimmers, Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Wilson's Plovers, and a number of other sea and shore birds. The diagnostic largish size, yellow skin on the legs and feet, charcoal mantle, red gonydeal spot, yellow eye, red orbital, red-orange gape, and relatively sleek build were easily observable from a distance of approximately 20 meters. The gull was at the south side of the lagoon in a tidal pool on the extensive sand flats near the ocean around noon today. The bird was very cooperative and allowed a fairly close approach and offered outstanding views.

Complete species list, Marco Island, 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM:

Domestic Muscovy, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, Green Heron, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Common Moorhen, Sandhill Crane, Black-bellied Plover, Snowy Plover , Wilson's Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Solitary Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot , Sanderling , Semipalmated Sandpiper , Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Black Skimmer, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Gray Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Eastern Towhee, Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow

56 total species

Also, an unbanded Peach-faced Lovebird has been frequenting Sugden Regional Park in Naples for the last week or so, perhaps a liberation by one of our recent storms. Thanks for reading.

Good birding,

Steve Carbol
Naples, FL
carbols@comcast.net

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Comments:	: Species of Note: Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus : Observed: Wednesday, September 22, 2004, 11:50 AM : Tigertail Beach : 400 Hernando Dr. : Marco Island, FL 34145 : : I observed an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull still mostly in definitive alternate ("breeding") plumage and just beginning to exhibit a few streaks of definitive basic ("nonbreeding" or "winter") plumage on its hind-crown today at Marco Island's Tigertail Beach. The bird stood amid a large mixed flock Laughing Gulls smattered with Sandwich and Royal Terns, Black Skimmers, Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Wilson's Plovers, and a number of other sea and shore birds. The diagnostic largish size, yellow skin on the legs and feet, charcoal mantle, red gonydeal spot, yellow eye, red orbital, red-orange gape, and relatively sleek build were easily observable from a distance of approximately 20 meters. The gull was at the south side of the lagoon in a tidal pool on the extensive sand flats near the ocean around noon today. The bird was very cooperative and allowed a fairly close approach and offered outstanding views. : : Complete species list, Marco Island, 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM: : : Domestic Muscovy, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, Green Heron, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Common Moorhen, Sandhill Crane, Black-bellied Plover, Snowy Plover , Wilson's Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Solitary Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot , Sanderling , Semipalmated Sandpiper , Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Black Skimmer, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Gray Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Eastern Towhee, Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow : : 56 total species : : Also, an unbanded Peach-faced Lovebird has been frequenting Sugden Regional Park in Naples for the last week or so, perhaps a liberation by one of our recent storms. Thanks for reading. : : Good birding, : : Steve Carbol : Naples, FL : carbols@comcast.net
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