The Laughing GullLarus atricilla is a black-hooded gull common on sandy beaches on the eastern U.S. Its closest black-hooded look-alike is the Franklin Gull Larus pipixcan. The Laughing Gull is distinguished from the Franklin Gull by its smaller white-eye ring, longer legs and longer bill with a drooped tip.
These Laughing Gulls were photographed on the Bolivar flats. Photos 8955 and 8960 show the 1st winter plumage.