American Herring Gull (smithsonianus)

(last update: October 30, 2015)

American Herring Gull (smithsonianus) adult C71 2009, 2010 & 2011, Salisbury State Reservation, MA.

See website: The Gulls Of Appledore

C71 is an adult originally banded on the nest at the Isles of Shoals in Maine in 2006. The bird seems to overwinter in Salisbury year after year, and was previously reported hanging out in the parking lot there in February and March of 2008. The bird returns to Appledore Island to breed each summer, and seems to prefer a nest site right in the middle of the Shoals Marine Laboratory’s campus! It is not unusual for gulls to show fidelity both to a nest site and an overwintering habitat, and this gull appears to be just such a creature of habit.

below: adult C71 October 18 2009, Salisbury State Reservation, Massachusetts. Picture: Suzanne Sullivan.

Still in active complete moult, P7 fully grown, outer primaries growing.

below: adult C71 January 18 2010, Salisbury State Reservation, Massachusetts. Picture: Jeff Davis.

Winter plumage.

below: adult C71 December 04 2010, Salisbury Beach State Park, Salisbury, MA. Picture: J. Trimble.

Visit Trimble's Flickr photo's.

below: adult C71 February 19 2011, Salisbury State Reservation, MA. Picture: Jonathan Mays.

Now with clean head.

below: adult C71 February 19 2011, Salisbury State Reservation, MA. Picture: Paul Corcoran.