Went out late afternoon to check the breakwalls at Lorain Harbor for Purple Sandpiper but I did not find the bird. As I pulled to the harbor the area was teaming with gulls. The Bonaparte's flock I would estimate at 4500+. Many were in the water and thousands of Ring-bills, Herring, and Bonaparte's were in flight. After scanning the breakwalls I starting picking through the gulls on the water. 2 caught my eye immediately...a adult Bonaparte's still retaining most of its black head and a 2nd winter FRANKLIN'S GULL with extensive hood,dark gray mantle, and primarily black wingtips with some small white markings. I was able to get some photos of the Franklin's. While slowly scoping the Bonaparte's flock that was resting on the water I came across a 1st winter LITTLE GULL and with its bold dark bar on the wing which just popped in the flock of Bonaparte's. When I was leaving the harbor at 5:30 the gulls were coming in to roost for the night. Hopefully these birds will stay through the day tomorrow for others to view. Best of birding to you. Irene ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]