Franklin's Gull Archives - Window to Wildlife

Franklin’s Gull at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 8, 2017

I made a stop at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee for a first stop checking the beach area this morning. The beach was quiet. I ran into Dave G there and I said I was heading to McKinley Beach, he said he was there earlier this morning and it was empty. Since I was at the lakefront I made the drive over and within a flock of about 25 Ring-billed Gulls I saw a gull with a light black head. I knew this was going to be something good and it was, a Franklin’s Gull, juvenile (1st cycle). Dave followed me over he also got few shots off before the gull took to the air and headed south for what appeared to be no apparent reason. The gull was just preening so it makes sense what the gull had in mind I think. It was a short lived burst of excitement in the birding world as we just don’t see Franklin’s along the lake very often. The highlight of the day with not much else to report along the north side of Milwaukee’s lakefront. It was a gorgeous day with full sun, mild temps and very little wind. Images were taken on October 8, 2017.

Franklin’s Gull

Binomial name: Larus pipixcan

Category: Gulls, Terns and Skimmers

Size: 14.5” long, 36” wing span

Weight: 10 oz

Stretching before the flight…

Some preening…

Franklin’s Gull, left – Ring-billed Gull, right

The back view..

Franklin’s Gulls at North Point in Sheboygan Wisconsin on May 31, 2016

By admin | May 31, 2016 - 7:33 pm |June 1, 2016 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

1 Comment

I decided to make a run up to North Point in Sheboygan this morning. At least 7 Franklin’s Gulls were the highlight. It was constant birds coming and going there which always makes it exciting as to what might show up there. Franklin’s Gulls, Bonaparte’s Gulls, Ring-billed along with some Common Terns were the main species present. It was very cold when I got there and once the sun finally showed it made things just better. Images were taken on May 31, 2016.

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

Franklin’s Gulls

5 Franklin’s Gulls

Franklin’s Gulls

Franklin’s Gull with fish and Bonaparte’s Gull front

Franklin’s Gull finding food

Franklin’s Gull

Franklin’s Gull with fish

Franklin’s Gull with Ring-billed Gull, size comparison image

Franklin’s Gulls

Franklin’s Gulls, 3 preening

Franklin’s Gull

Franklin’s Gull preening

Franklin’s Gull eating bugs off a stick

Common Tern

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

By admin | November 12, 2015 - 3:23 pm |November 12, 2015 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

3 Comments

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.