Franklin’s Gull at North Point in Sheboygan Wisconsin on November 12, 2015

I decided on the way into Milwaukee early morning being still dark with a light mist I would change plans and try for the Black-headed Gull that was reported yesterday by Daryl T in Sheboygan. When I arrived, it was just light. I stopped on the road near North Point and noticed a different gull near the waters edge. It was a Franklin’s Gull in nonbreeding plumage. A life bird for me that has avoided me well for the last few years. I have chased many reports the last couple of years, finally! The images are crude as it was just light, I shot from my parked car with the window down as a dog walker was a few feet away from the Franklin’s and moving towards it. After the bird flushed from the dog walker it flew just off shore for a minute and that was the end of that bird. I hung around for a couple of hours just in case it returned or the Black-headed Gull showed, neither happened. I stopped at Port Washington and a Great Black-backed Gull stood way out near the end of a dock. After I checked the area for other species south of that, returned, it appeared to be sleeping sound in the same place. I checked the Milwaukee Lakefront on the way back as I saw Steve L’s post of the Franklin’s Gulls moving south on the lake. I saw a flock of about 15 at the Lake Express Ferry, they were heading south. When I first saw the flock flying, it was quiet obvious it was a species I had not seen before as the way the flock moved.  I also noticed a flock of about 20 Snow Buntings on the lakefront. A fun day out, weather was really not all that bad, it was not cold. Images were taken on November 12, 2015.

Franklin's Gull

Franklin’s Gull

Franklin’s Gull

Binomial name: Larus pipixcan

Category: Gulls, Terns and Skimmers

Size: 14.5” long, 36” wing span

Weight: 10 oz

Franklin's Gull with 2 Ring-billed Gull and Herring Gull

Franklin’s Gull with 3 Ring-billed Gulls and Herring Gull

Franklin's Gull

Franklin’s Gull

Franklin's Gull

Franklin’s Gull

Franklin's Gull with a Ring-billed Gull

Franklin’s Gull with a preening Ring-billed Gull

Franklin's Gull

Franklin’s Gull

Franklin's Gull with a Ring-billed Gull being flushed

Franklin’s Gull with a Ring-billed Gull being flushed

Franklin's Gull

Franklin’s Gull

Great Black-backed Gull looking around at the Port Washington Marina

Great Black-backed Gull looking around at the Port Washington Marina

Great Black-backed Gull sound asleep at the Port Washington Marina

Great Black-backed Gull sound asleep at the Port Washington Marina

Partial flock of Franklin's Gulls high up and moving south over the Lake Express Ferry Milwaukee WI 11/12/15

Partial flock of Franklin’s Gulls high up and moving south over the Lake Express Ferry Milwaukee WI 11/12/15

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About admin

Window to Wildlife features the photography of Jim Edlhuber. A lifelong native of Wisconsin, Jim has been photographing wildlife for 20 years. He considers himself an avid photographer and is always trying to capture nature and wildlife through his lens. He is in several photography clubs and has won numerous awards for his work. In recent years, Jim has focused mostly on birding photography and finds it to be the most challenging.

3 Responses to Franklin’s Gull at North Point in Sheboygan Wisconsin on November 12, 2015

  1. Ed says:

    Thanks for the photos. Seems like it would be kind of a frisky day out on the lake front.

  2. Anne Koeppe says:

    I always enjoy your excellent, varied photos of a species and learn from them. Thank you very much. Anne

  3. Nan Wisherd says:

    Wisconsin has such a great diversity of avian species. Great photos, Jim!

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