Milford Point 10/28/19, Black-legged Kittiwake and others

Milford Point 10/28/19, Black-legged Kittiwake.  I took this bird to be a Bonaparte's Gull, but was puzzled by its bill especially: it is relatively shorter and thicker than a Bonaparte's; also, as Charla remarked, the black collar does not seem right for BOGU.  Also, having recently seen and photographed the Westport adult BLKI found by Tina Green, I was looking for ink-dipped wing tips and the yellow bill.  But this first-cycle bird has a black bill and a pale gray and white underwing with just an edge of black at the wing tip.  I also confess that despite recently reading Pete Dunne's description of the "down-turned gape" that makes the BLKI seem to be frowning, I missed that clue also.  (A few photos, while not good, do show the gape frown.)  Luckily, Aidan Kiley correctly identified the bird from my (mistaken) eBird report's photos, shown below.  Thanks, Aidan.

Black-legged Kittiwake, Milford Point 10/28/19

Black-legged Kittiwake, Milford Point 10/28/19

Black-legged Kittiwake, Milford Point 10/28/19

Black-legged Kittiwake, Milford Point 10/28/19

Black-legged Kittiwake, Milford Point 10/28/19

Black-legged Kittiwake, Milford Point 10/28/19

American Oystercatchers, Milford Point 10/28/19

House Finches, Milford Point 10/28/19

House Finches, Milford Point 10/28/19

Black-bellied Plover, Milford Point 10/28/19

Black-bellied Plover, Milford Point 10/28/19

Black-bellied Plover, Milford Point 10/28/19

Black-bellied Plover, Milford Point 10/28/19, w/ Dunlin

Sanderling, Milford Point 10/28/19

Laughing Gulls, Milford Point 10/28/19

Laughing Gulls, Milford Point 10/28/19

Laughing Gulls, Milford Point 10/28/19

Black Skimmer, Milford Point, 10/28/19

Silver Sands Vesper, Field Sparrow; Red-shouldered vs Cooper's Hawk juveniles

Red-shouldered Hawk, Silver Sands, 10/26/19

Silver Sands Vesper, Field Sparrow; Red-shouldered vs Cooper's Hawk juveniles

Field Sparrow, Silver Sands, 10/26/19

Vesper Sparrow, Silver Sands SP, 10/26/19

Vesper Sparrow, Silver Sands SP, 10/26/19

Vesper Sparrow, Silver Sands SP, 10/26/19

Cooper's Hawk juv., Silver Sands SP, 10/12/19

Cooper's Hawk juv., Silver Sands SP, 10/12/19

Cooper's Hawk, juv., Silver Sands SP, 12/12/19

Cooper's Hawk, juv., Silver Sands SP, 12/12/19

Bonaparte's Gull, juv Common Tern, gulls, Trumbull Ave, 10/25/19

Meadowlark, Sherwood Island State Park, 10/24/19

Meadowlark, Sherwood Island State Park, 10/24/19.  Below is my eBird comment.  The Eastern (EAME) from Western (WEME) separation of this Meadowlark is quite difficult, and the final decision is awaited. 

Joined about 6 other birders who were looking at a group of 5 Meadowlarks on a field behind the bird feeders. One of the Meadowlarks, picked out by John Oshlick and seen by the whole group, was paler (gray--see photos) on its upper parts than the brown upperparts of the others, presumably EAMEs. Its flanks were white, in contrast to the buffy EAMEs. While the malar was pale, it had a hint of yellow. This bird also seemed slightly smaller than the others. A few photos are attached.

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Black-legged Kittiwake, Sasco Beach, 10/21/19

A few pictures below of the Black-legged Kittiwake found by Tina Green on 10/19/19.  It was seen by many biders, first sitting on the water and then resting on the beach.  It appeared to be panting, and a few photos show its open bill and characteristic red in the mouth's interior. It was in the company of Ring-billed, Laughing, and Bonaparte's Gulls.