Thanks, Marv, for the confirmation. I saw the same gull on Sunday afternoon at the same location, although it was distant and I couldn't get a good read on the bill color (it was constantly probing in the mud, anyway). The aft white in the wings, the fact it had a "neck" (I always think of Bonies as being short-necked) and the bold eye arcs were sufficient for me to mark it down as FRGU. Now your report reaffirms my decision. Ironically, there were no Bonies on the tide flats when I was at Dugualla - just the lone FRGU among the local gulls/terns.

Tom Mansfield in Seattle.

From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu [mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Marv Breece
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 9:02 PM
To: Tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Whidbey Island Franklin's Gull

Today there were so many dark hooded BONAPARTE'S GULLS on Whidbey Island that I almost completely overlooked a breeding plumaged FRANKLIN'S GULL. The bird was on the tide flats at Dugualla Bay.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
marvbreece at q.com<mailto:marvbreece at q.com>