Brookline Bird Club – America’s most active bird club!

Successful Gull Walk at Revere Beach

On Saturday November 15 the BBC sponsored a very successful gull-focused walk at Revere Beach. 35 birders showed up to learn about plumages, molts, and cycles. Led by Soheil Zendeh, Justine Hanson, and local gull expert Suzanne Sullivan, the group spent two hours examining and learning how to identify 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th cycle Herring Gulls.

As our fall speaker Amar Ayyash, author of The Gull Guide, explained, not two Herring Gulls look alike. We learned to focus on feather groups such as scapulars, coverts and primaries while not getting overly distracted by leg and f ootcolor. We also had the opportunity to examine several Ring Billed Gulls and a handful of adult Great Black Backed Gulls. While they did not offer as much variety as the Herring Gulls, we found opportunities for instruction and these species sometimes served as points of contrast with the abundant Herring Gulls.

The most interesting bird of the morning was a probable “Great Lakes” 2nd cycle Herring Gull, which displayed the lighter colors thought to be found in that breeding population.

The BBC will be sponsoring one more gull focused trip this fall, at Winthrop Beach on December 6 starting at 7:30 and led by Ilija Dukovski. Please be sure to join us!

Adult Ring Billed Gull
Adult Ring Billed Gull by Soheil Zendah
2nd Cycle Probable "Great Lakes" Herring Gull
2nd Cycle Probable “Great Lakes” Herring Gull by Soheil Zendah
3rd Cycle Ring Billed Gull
3rd Cycle Ring Billed Gull by Soheil Zendah
Revere Beach Gull Walk Participants
by Cliff Cook
Revere Beach Gull Walk Participants
by John Edmondson
Revere Beach Gull Walk Participants
by Michealle Larkins

News Categories

BBC News
BBC Trip Reports
Pelagic Trip Report
In Find Memory
BBC Annual Report

Upcoming Field Trips

Field Trips / Events

Field Trips / Events Search and Views Navigation

Field Trip / Event Views Navigation

Today

  • Scusset Beach State Reservation

    Sagamore - Scusset Beach Pier Parking Lot MA, United States

    Offered by the Cape Cod Bird Club! and co-sponsored by Brookline Bird Club. We'll spend the morning exploring the thickets on the wooded trails for fall migrants, walking the bike path along the canal where wintering waterfowl should just be coming in and exploring the campground area. We’ll finish up at the beach and scope [...]

  • Fresh Pond, Cambridge

    Cambridge - Fresh Pond - TD Bank 235 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge, MA, United States

    An easy 2-mile walk through pondside meadows and forest paths at Fresh Pond. The over-wintering waterbirds have started to arrive, and we may see Ring-necked Ducks, Ruddy Ducks and both Hooded and Common Mergansers. Meadow and forest species may include year-round residents as well as seasonal visitors from the north (e.g. White-throated Sparrows, Juncos).

  • Franklin Park – Scarboro Pond (Early Birders Series)

    Boston - Franklin Park Tennis Courts (Meeting Spot) MA, United States

    Join fellow birders in their 20s-30s as we visit Franklin Park! Located in Roxbury, Boston’s largest open space is home to a plethora of natural features, including miles of trails, playing fields, a pond, and plenty of birds! Here we will look for all sorts of songbirds, including late fall migrants and early winterers. Whether [...]

  • An Oasis for Birds at Belle Isle Marsh

    East Boston - Belle Isle Parking Lot 1399 Bennington Street, Boston, MA, United States

    Led by DCR staff. We will search on foot up to one mile, on flat, easy terrain for snowy owls and other raptors, native sparrows, finches, waterfowl, and other birds. This is a traveling program by car or bike. Prepare for ticks. Ages: Adults and kids 8 years+ with adult chaperone. Binoculars recommended. Cosponsored by [...]

  • Arlington Reservoir with Arlington Open Space Committee and Arlington Reservoir Committee

    Lexington - Arlington Reservoir 210 Lowell Street, Arlington, MA, United States

    Getting into late fall, we'll look for interesting ducks and perhaps lingering shorebirds. We'll also check the gardens for remaining fall migrants. Cosponsored by the Arlington Open Space Committee and Arlington Reservoir Committee, and Menotomy Bird Club. For late arrivers, this time we'll circle the reservoir in the clockwise direction looking for interesting ducks first. [...]

Established in 1913, America’s most active bird club!

© 2024 Brookline Bird Club

Go to Top