Gray-hooded Gull in New York ~ August 1, 2011

News of an amazing find of a Gray-hooded Gull at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York sent Jason Horn, Matt Sabatine, and I to the spot. This gull is normally found in South America and Africa. The only U.S. record of this bird comes from Florida back in 1998.

We left Sunday afternoon and found out that the bird flew off about 15 minutes before we got there. We stayed until dark, but the bird never returned. So, we drove back over on Monday and got there just after sunrise. We watched and waited until 1:00 and the bird never showed. After spending a total of about 11 hours there over two days, we dejectedly headed back home. Then, as we were crossing the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, we found out that the bird had returned to the very spot we just left! We turned around, headed back, and finally got to see this interesting gull. If accepted, this bird will represent only the 2nd record for the United States.

Gray-hooded Gull at Coney Island Beach in Brooklyn, New York. Note the light gray hood, the pale eye, the red bill with a dark tip, and the red legs.

Gray-hooded Gull at Coney Island Beach in Brooklyn, New York. Note the light gray hood, the pale eye, the red bill with dark tip, the red legs, and all-white tail.

We had many other interesting sightings from Coney Island, but most of them were not bird-related and probably cannot be legally posted here.

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