Franklin's Gull

Status Six records. A single bird was seen on Sable Island between 26 May and 2 June 1973 by Jean Boulva, whose photographs confirmed the identification. This was the first record for the province. Since then, single birds have been reported on Cape Sable on 8 January 1973 (B.J. and S. Smith); on Sable Island between 23 August and 13 September 1978 (several observers, photographs); 13-14 May 1981 on Brier Island (W. Lent et al.); on Seal Island (photographed by I.A. McLaren) on 18-20 July 1983; and at Grand Pré dyke, Kings County, on 3 September 1983 (J. Timpa et al.).

Remarks Adults in breeding plumage resemble Laughing Gulls but smaller, and more white on the tips of the primaries, with the black of the wing-tips divided from the gray of the upper wing by a broad white band. Immatures are also like Laughing Gulls, but more extensively dark on face and nape. Although many Franklin's Gulls migrate to Peru by way of the Caribbean from their breeding grounds on the western prairies, they reach the Atlantic coast well south of the Maritime Provinces, and we are unlikely to receive more than an occasional vagrant.