Strong westerlies in the Fall - especially October - almost always drop a few Franklin's Gulls on the shores of southern Lake Michigan. Yesterday, while working the gulls at the Miller Beach Lakewatch in Lake County, Indiana, these 3 came barging in from the, yes you guessed it, west!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3PdAGcSPxA2S7IijLi5loKSd35COpi4ZQ3FTgzQsL0l5H5ZP-JhYw4L3WfcxHNCoxhnEh8euXi8Xr2VYCexXjB8ET6nBigZOpWJzZyfvvGi4nZ9pMURY7NQjDuia95XJDbXexPV_S2h_/s640/frgu+5+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
This adult type Franklin's is most likely a second cycle, per the black spots on the primary coverts as well as the extensive black outer primary pattern. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDteuOnElGjSILO93-la7qOpCAfGYu303tVei3BBIWIOQJVxm3ALlVEoJlqtlFBHrdUfxSg3t7H_rGtWdHhT_Gl2qm0A5AsU2WwwhRCfq_wQuTrx3vfIhnAM4DP-NCd7w0ujBiMEya8-Sk/s640/frgu+3+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
An exquisite plumage! Hatch year Franklin's have a certain prestige associated with them that they seem to boast. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycb3FE0ZnDsg4RJk7pfFL7gPdIg26cvnzne5fc2wGjr4gh1xBL66S6pRucVZtuj1OMOY9OpAVBQ6HJopppWPHl12TXCwSHRtweDQnc9zLe2Ssw01vMu2Tmpj5HzaQL3O0cB0YsbyuGm2E/s640/frgu+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
The underbody shows a tailband that doesn't extend all the way to the outer edges of the outer rectrices. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiio8wqgCxi9UbRui089AhHH901aS2yRjn8G1JKdN03vkA8Uj6PQyHwcy916KaCOvlC2sqcCZV5AsXBhi9H2CnxJdgOji7oo92EN_dCi7_ZAP3U7OohdXEpElBNrjpOfgG0dc7NyvK2uxcE/s640/frgu+6+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg) |
Lighting was poor and the 30 mph northwest winds made for a challenging session. The gulls didn't seem to mind!! |