Great Black-backed Gull
Here is a Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) that was relaxing on this balmy February day – chatting? Yelling? Calling? Laughing? Not that, we know what Laughing Gulls look like! It was actually yawning, and you can even get a good look at that tongue dangling down. It must be bored with this easy and comfortable winter weather…or maybe tired of staring at me who is itching to see more wildlife. I love snow but oh boy, these days make me ready for spring. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreGreat Black-backed Gull
This Great Black-backed Gull was coming in for a water landing, but what I did not notice at this moment was that it had a free fish meal waiting for it. After it landed it snatched up this easy lunch and went off to try to find a way to eat it without being noticed by any friends. Winter is not the time to be sharing in the natural world. It is a difficult time for our wildlife to survive with harsh conditions making even consistent eating often all too rare. This bird is an adult, but the first-winter birds of many species of birds often suffer the most during these months. This recently...
Read MoreSea Star Snack
Anyone care for a sea star snack? The gulls have it easy – from landfills to parking lots to shores there always seems to be a lot for them to eat year-round compared to some other starving species. I will say this…that does not look like it would feel good going down. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreParasitic Jaeger
Here are a couple greats photos of a Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) via our friend, superb birder and expert naturalist Frank Mantlik as seen from Stratford Point a couple of weeks ago. Long Island Sound has been alive with everything from humpback whale sightings to various uncommon or rare fish, turtles and birds. This Parasitic Jaeger looks like an intermediate morph juvenile, and you can see it chasing a juvenile Laughing Gull in one of the photos. We observed this behavior from at least a few individual Parasitic Jaegers over several days during feeding frenzies involving...
Read MoreGlaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)
The enormous Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) must feel right at home on days like this that seem like the arctic tundra has moved into our backyards. It is a tremendous time of year to find all sorts of gulls, and sorting through the common species will end up yielding gems like this one. It may not be my favorite form of birding but it certainly does pay off when you can get a look at this sort of majestic bird. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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