We were up in the San Juans this weekend and I what was apparently either a
laughing gull or a Franklin's gull. The field marks I got were as follows:

- medium size, not tiny but clearly smaller than glaucous-winged gulls in
the same area
- white head with half hood and an additional black smudge on the face
- medium-gray wings, a little lighter than slate
- wing tips black with white spotting; black on underside as well
- black bill
- black legs (I think)

I saw no color anywhere, but didn't notice the eyes. Any other
characteristics of the bird on my part are impressions or imperfect
memories. My overall sense, after looking at as many references as I have,
is that it could conceivably be either, but I'm leaning toward Franklin's.
I gather that neither species is common in coastal Washington.

Any opinions?

Jim McCoy
jfmccoy at earthlink.net
Redmond, WA