Franklin's Gull at Llobregat Delta, May 2001: 6th for Spain

by Ricard Gutiérrez, & Ferran López.

The morning of 11th May 2001 the renowned Barcelona birders Joan Castelló, Xesco Macià and Marc Iranzo were having a look at El Prat de Llobregat area, Llobregat Delta. This area holds the Cal Roc seasonally flooded fields which attract interesting numbers of waders and gulls in an otherwise rather dry part of the delta in this part of the year.
 

	Check a photo of the area (opens in another window). 88Kb, 800x604 pixels The fourth dot left of the Little Egret on the right side of the image is the Franklin's Gull
	Download a pdf format birding itinerary of this part of the Delta from the Llobregat Delta web site (opens in another window). In Spanish. 319 Kb

The day before, Sergi Sales, Lluís Estrada and J.A. Calero had found a Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus in the same area, only the 3rd for the area (previous in 1981) and accidental in Catalonia (e.g. only one record  in 1996-1998).

They quickly recognized something strange in a small dark mantled gull which was in the middle of an oversummering flock of Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus: it was a Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan of which there are only 5 accepted records for Spain, one of which was also in the Llobregat Delta from 26.12.1990-15.1.1991.

After phoning FL and RG, they gathered the finders trio in the area, under some rainy conditions and managed to obtain some digital pictures.

The bird was a 1st winter moulting into first summer plumage bird and was totally associated with Mediterranean Gulls.

All photos taken with Agfa E-Photo 1680 and Nikon Coolpix 900 attached to Kowa TSN823 and 824 telescopes with 20-60x eyepiece on Manfrotto tripod by the authors on 11.5.2001 at Cal Roc, Llobregat delta under cloudy and rainy conditions.

Click on the image for a 1104x800 version /Clicar en la imagen para una versión de 1104x800 pixels/Cliqueu la imatge per a una versió de 1104x800 pixels (93 Kb).

Note the classic short-legged and tiny-headed looking, with dark mantle and eye-catching head pattern with half hood and white eye-crescents. Note retained coverts and central unmoulted tail feathers retaining dark band. Primaries lack any white tip and instead seem worn, with a brownish end.
Nótese la clásica apariencia paticorta y de cabeza delicada, con un dorso oscuro y un diseño facial llamativo, con la semi-caperuza y el patrón de los ojos. Fiajos en las coberteras retenidas y las plumas centrales de la cola, no mudadas y con banda oscura. Las primarias no tienen ninguna punta blanca y aparecen gastadas con una punta marrón.
Noteu la clàssica apariència potacurta amb un cap força delicat, amb el dors fosc i disseny facial que crida l'atenció, amb la semi-caputxa i el patró dels ulls. Té cobertores retingudes i les plomes centrals de la cua, no mudades, tenen banda fosca. Les primàries sense cap punta blanca i estaven gastades, amb punta marró

Click on the image for a 800x887 version /Clicar en la imagen para una versión de 800x887 pixels/Cliqueu la imatge per a una versió de 800x887 pixels. 89 Kb

Althougn light conditions affected subjective darkness of the mantle, the pattern was straightforward compared with nearby 1st summer Mediterranean Gulls, which were slightly larger and clearly longer-legged. Note the effect of mud in the bill which here appears brownish.
Aunque las condiciones de luz afectaban a la luz de forma subjetiva, el diseño del aver era claramente correspondiente a la especie, sobre todo comparado con las Gaviotas Cabecinegras cercanas, más grandes y patilagas. El pico aparece aquí amarillento a causa del barro .
Tot i que la llum afectaba els tons del plomatge, el disseny de l'ocell era clarament de l'espècie, sobre tot comparat amb les gavines capnegres properes, més grans i potallarges. El bec sembla marronós per l'efecte del fang.

Note moulted tertials but retained coverts and worn primaries. In flight, secondaries were seen to be also retained. Nótense las terciarias mudadas pero cobertoras y primarias gastadas, retenidas. En vuelo se veian las secundarias también retenidas.
Noteu les terciàries que són noves, en comparació amb les cobertores i primàries gastadas, retingudes, En vol es veien les secundaries també retingudes.

Notice the pot-bellied looking, which combined with head patternd and short legs make this species quite unique. Notad la cierta apariencia barriguda que combinada con el diseño de la cabeza y las patas cortas le dan un aspecto único a esta especie. Noteu l'apariència panxuda que combinada amb el patró del cap i potes curtes fan  de l'aspecte d'aquesta espècie quelcom bastant únic.