Martins Creek Nature Trail and Preserve ~ February 7, 2024

I walked the Martins Creek Nature Trail this morning. At around 11:00 AM, I heard some gulls calling overhead. When I looked up, I saw about 15 Ring-billed Gulls circling, but one of the birds looked obviously different. There were large white markings in the primaries. I took as many photos as I could of it as it got higher and eventually headed west with the group in the direction of the Grand Central landfill. After going through my gull books and doing a lot of research online, there's a possibility that it might have been a Common Gull, a Eurasian bird that occasionally shows up in the Northeast. It's also probable that it might have been an aberrantly-marked Ring-billed Gull. I am adding all of the photos here with notations.

Probable Common Gull. Note the large white spots in the primaries, and the short, thin bill. No dark mark can be seen on the bill.

Here are three photos showing the bird next to a young Ring-billed Gull for comparison.

Probable Common Gull. Note the large white spots in the primaries, and the short, thin bill compared to the young Ring-billed Gull below it.

Here are another three photos showing the bird leading the same young Ring-billed Gull and an adult Ring-billed Gull behind it, again for comparison.

Probable Common Gull. Note the large white spots in the primaries compared to the young Ring-billed Gull and adult Ring-billed Gull behind it.

Along the trail, I found an Eastern Towhee, a Hermit Thrush, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and a Fox Sparrow that dropped out of sight before I could get a photo.

Eastern Towhee

Hermit Thrush

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Along the river, I spotted 13 Common Goldeneye, 11 Buffleheads, 4 Common Mergansers, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, a Hairy Woodpecker, and a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Hairy Woodpecker

Back near the parking lot, there were 3 Field Sparrows.

Field Sparrow

At the nearby Martins Creek Environmental Preserve, I saw 22 Buffleheads, 14 Ring-necked Ducks, 9 Common Mergansers, 3 Redheads, 2 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Gadwall, 2 American Coots, 2 Northern Harriers, a Belted Kingfisher, 2 American Tree Sparrows, and an American Kestrel.

American Tree Sparrow

American Kestrel

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