Willow Flycatcher

 Willow Flycatcher is rare as a breeder on Virginia's coastal plain, so this one at a site in Portsmouth not open to the public was quite noteworthy. While breeding hasn't yet been confirmed, it sang it's distinctive "fitz-bew" repeatedly from the same area from May 23rd to June 20th.

Brian Taber

Glaucous Gull

This strikingly white Glaucous Gull was seen on May 30th at a Portsmouth site not open to the public. The species is rare here at any season. Variable in size, this one is about the size of the adjacent Herring Gull and distinctly larger than the nearby Lesser Black-backed. Its white wingtips project only a little past the tail. Its large bill is sharply two-toned. Glaucous hybridizes with other gulls, but this one doesn't show any obvious signs of being a hybrid.

Brian Taber

Unusual Laughing Gull Molt

 This Laughing Gull, on May 16, was at a site in Portsmouth not open to the public and it shows a weird pattern that I've not seen or even seen described anywhere, at least so far. Laughers are 3-cycle gulls and while molt can be variable and quite confusing, this bird shows an adult head and tail pattern, like 3rd cycle, but with 1st cycle flight feathers that don't appear to be very worn...the white trailing edge even seems pretty well intact. Comments appreciated...send to taberzz@aol.com and I can post updated information.

Brian Taber