Wow! Orange County LITTLE GULL!

I was on the golf course this morning when Jeanne Cimorelli reported that she briefly had a LITTLE GULL at Washington Lake. Fortunately, larophile extraordinaire Bruce Nott relocated the bird a little later at Plum Point. After golf, I ran for the bird, convinced that I had only a very slim chance of getting it. Fortunately the bird stuck around, associating with a large flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls on the Hudson River just north of Plum Point. I was thrilled to get on the bird on the water – at first it was a challenge to find it among the 70 or so Bonies, but then it got a little easier. Then the flock took flight, and that’s when finding the bird was easy, its dark underwings showing up very well. I believe this is the first county record of Little Gull; the bird was a life bird for me.

~It was really exciting to see this bird – LITTLE GULL at Plum Point 04/20/24. I would have loved to get closer looks and pics, but this could very well end up being a once in a lifetime occurrence, so I’m just thrilled to have gotten the bird.~
LITTLE GULL in flight amongst 70 or so Bonaparte’s Gulls, Plum Point, 04/20/24.~

8 thoughts on “Wow! Orange County LITTLE GULL!”

    1. Thanks Miller! I had a small window of opportunity, so I got lucky to get it in flight, since the birds were mostly on the water. Matt

    1. Yeah, what a great bird for the county – I’ve been hoping for this one for years. Matt

  4. Great shots. Last year we had one at Pt. Pleasant. Several years ago I had 3 at Spruce Run Res. Years ago thay would show up in our county at south Amboy. Congrats on a lifer.

    1. Thanks so much Bruce- lifers in your home county are few and far between these days, so I was pretty excited. Plus it was one I’ve really been hoping for. Matt

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