Today's Unknowns

[floraphile]

09 Dec 2020 Baldwin co. AL; bayside

?Franklin's Gull 2nd from L.  The eye arcs seem thick for Laughing Gull

2.  ?Gull-Billed Terns vs. Sandwich Tern vs.  Are they even terns???  They look fat for terns, short for gulls.  Tails not right for gulls.  Wings really pointy like terns.  I'm lost on this one.

3.  ?Laughing Gull (the relatively tiny one in the water toward the lower L corner)--but he seems so small

Edited December 9, 2020 by floraphile
typo

[floraphile]

bump--first time I've used this term/method.  ? 

Edited December 10, 2020 by floraphile
typo

[Connor Cochrane]

1. I could be wrong but I think it’s laughing. I don’t think FRGU would have that small of dots on the primary’s while it’s in this plumage. Also the hood is wrong. 
 

2. This is purely a guess. The photo is weird, and it’s fairly difficult to tell, but why not Forester’s? It looks like they have a black mask. The bill shape looks wrong though.

3. Maybe Bonapartes?

Im sure some of these IDs are incorrect. The photos leave a lot to be desired, and I’m on a phone which makes it even harder to see details. 

[Candydez12]

1. Laughing Gulls

2. I think maybe Forester's Gull

3. Black Legged Kittiwake

[Jerry Friedman]

Just a spelling note, folks: Forster's.  (I can't ID these birds.)

[Connor Cochrane]

1 minute ago, Jerry Friedman said:

Just a spelling note, folks: Forster's.  (I can't ID these birds.)

Thanks

 

10 minutes ago, Connor Cochrane said:

1. I could be wrong but I think it’s laughing. I don’t think FRGU would have that small of dots on the primary’s while it’s in this plumage. Also the hood is wrong. 
 

2. This is purely a guess. The photo is weird, and it’s fairly difficult to tell, but why not Forester’s? It looks like they have a black mask. The bill shape looks wrong though.

3. Maybe Bonapartes?

Im sure some of these IDs are incorrect. The photos leave a lot to be desired, and I’m on a phone which makes it even harder to see details. 

And now that I’m looking at 2 again. The underwing looks pretty dark. I’m not sure if it’s all shadow. 

[floraphile]

7 minutes ago, Candydez12 said:

1. Laughing Gulls

2. I think maybe Forester's Gull

3. Black Legged Kittiwake

There is not a Forester's Gull that I know of.  And I don't think we have ever had a Black Legged Kittiwake in Baldwin co. AL

Edited December 10, 2020 by floraphile
typo

[Candydez12]

1 minute ago, floraphile said:

There is not Forester's Gull that I know of.  And I don't think we have ever had a Black Legged Kittiwake in Baldwin co. AL

Oh sorry, I meant Forster's Tern. I must have been looking at the gulls and said that. Sorry.... 

Edited December 10, 2020 by Candydez12

[floraphile]

16 minutes ago, Connor Cochrane said:

1. I could be wrong but I think it’s laughing. I don’t think FRGU would have that small of dots on the primary’s while it’s in this plumage. Also the hood is wrong. 
 

2. This is purely a guess. The photo is weird, and it’s fairly difficult to tell, but why not Forester’s? It looks like they have a black mask. The bill shape looks wrong though.

3. Maybe Bonapartes?

Im sure some of these IDs are incorrect. The photos leave a lot to be desired, and I’m on a phone which makes it even harder to see details. 

Agreed photos are not good--your diplomacy is exemplary, @Connor Cochrane.  ? I'm just going to call the gulls "gull sp."  Headed back out there today with my birding camera.

[floraphile]

10 minutes ago, Candydez12 said:

Oh sorry, I meant Forster's Tern. I must have been looking at the gulls and said that. Sorry.... 

@Candydez12   There is one record of Black-Legged Kittiwake in Baldwin AL Dec 2015

 

 

Edited December 10, 2020 by floraphile
TMI

[floraphile]

9 minutes ago, floraphile said:

@Candydez12   There is one record of Black-Legged Kittiwake in Baldwin AL Dec 2015

 

 

@Candydez12There are 3 listings by the Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Birds Committee:  1994, 1999, 2001.  If there is a sighting in the next few days in Baldwin, I will let you know.

Edited December 10, 2020 by floraphile
typo

[Connor Cochrane]

12 minutes ago, floraphile said:

Agreed photos are not good--your diplomacy is exemplary, @Connor Cochrane.  ? I'm just going to call the gulls "gull sp."  Headed back out there today with my birding camera.

Gull sp. Seems like a good option for now. Somebody will probably be able to confirm the first gull. I can confirm though that the first bird doesn't look like a Kittiwake, that seems like a Merlin suggestion.

[Tony Leukering]

34 minutes ago, Connor Cochrane said:

1. I could be wrong but I think it’s laughing. I don’t think FRGU would have that small of dots on the primary’s while it’s in this plumage. Also the hood is wrong. 
 

2. This is purely a guess. The photo is weird, and it’s fairly difficult to tell, but why not Forester’s? It looks like they have a black mask. The bill shape looks wrong though.

3. Maybe Bonapartes?

Im sure some of these IDs are incorrect. The photos leave a lot to be desired, and I’m on a phone which makes it even harder to see details. 

1 - Laughing -- Franklin's has a lot more black on the head

2 - Forster's -- there is only one 'e' in the name

3 - Bonaparte's