[obol] FRANKLIN'S GULL in Jackson County
- From: Jeffrey Tufts <jctufts33@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2014 11:48:52 -0800
Sharing the south mudflats at Agate Lake yesterday (Dec. 3) with four adult
Ring-billed Gulls was a first-year FRANKLIN'S GULL. Always rare west of
the Cascades, this species normally migrates to South America for the
winter. Although there have been occasional sightings of this smallish
gull species in Jackson County, none have been reported later than October.
The Franklin's Gull was first identified as a Bonaparte's Gull (mea culpa)
during the monthly First Wednesday Rogue Valley Audubon count at Agate.
After later consideration and then, most importantly, consulting a
photograph taken by George Peterson, the bird was seen to be a Franklin's
Gull. Dark legs and blackish coloring around the eyes and the back of the
head separate this species from the much commoner Bonaparte's.
Jeff Tufts
Medford
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