Information provided by
Bill George
Nassau County Bird Club
Photo courtesy of Richard Timm
January 8, 2018 10:27 a.m.
Nassau County birdwatchers braved cold weather at Fort Clinch over the weekend and caught a glimpse of a First Cycle Glaucous Gull. According to Bill George, “The Glaucous Gull breeds in the Arctic and winters normally on both coasts of Canada, New England and the Great Lakes. Another first cycle Glaucous Gull is still being reported in Sebastian Inlet north of Fort Pierce, Florida. It is an occasional visitor to Florida and may have been pushed here by the recent bomb cyclone.”
In case you are wondering why the sighting identified the Glacuous Gull as a “First Cycle,” George said, “Glacuous Gulls have a 4 year cycle before they acquire their adult plumage. [The bird sighted] shows the typical bicolor bill of a first year bird.
Other sightings over the weekend included Great Black-backed Gulls, Horned Grebe, Black Scoters, Hooded Mergansers, and Red-breasted Mergansers. George said a total of 38 species were observed at Ft. Clinch, Willow Pond Trail and a Pond two blocks behind the Atlantic Recreation Center.
The next trip will focus on shorebirds that winter here. The trip is scheduled for February 10, at Spoonbill Pond and Huguenot Park. If you have any questions, email Bill George at birdbill5