While recording audio for film projects this past week I was wonderfully surprised to come upon this small flock of the beautiful and graceful Bonaparte’s Gulls feeding at low tide!.
The water was very clear and I think in the above photo you are seeing not the gull’s reflection, but its open mouth plunge for tiny shrimp.
Non-breeding plumage.
Bonaparte’s Gulls are exquisite creatures to observe. Appearing to delight in riding the waves, they twirl every which way before diving for krill.
In this flock you can see very clearly the changing feather patterns from breeding to non-breeding, with the signature charcoal gray smudge behind the ear on the gull on the left. Typically by mid-August they have gained their winter plumage. During breeding season the feathers of the hood become entirely black.
We see Bonaparte’s Gulls in Massachusetts in spring on their northward migration to the boreal forests of Alaska and Canada and again in the summer as they return to winter grounds along the Gulf of Mexico and southern Great Lakes region. I at first thought that these were Laughing Gulls but the pinkish-orange feet and legs and buzzy vocalizations tell us otherwise.
I ran into my friend and long-time Annisquam resident Hank Junker on Lighthouse Beach and he reports that every summer he sees at least one Bonaparte’s at Lighthouse Beach or the adjacent Cambridge Street Beach. Hank also mentioned that they are typically here earlier in the summer, around the first week of August.
Black wing-tips and pink-orange feet suggest Bonaparte’s Gulls
Ring-billed Gull in the background, Bonaparte’s in the fore.
The Bonaparte’s Gull is about half the size of the Ring-billed Gull. I have learned to observe closely groups of gulls because different species sometimes feed together and you never know what fascinating bird may be amongst the flock.
The gulls are finding a smorgasbord at dawn’s low tide, feeding on krill and other crustaceans. They get into tussles over feeding turf and, with a flourish of wings and a sharp, rasping “keh-keh,” they give each other the business, in no uncertain terms!
Two more photos here
Annisquam Lighthouse at Daybreak
Several more photos from the following day ~
They are beautiful! Thank you for all the beautiful posts.
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Thank you Estelle, new to my eyes, and what a beauty treat!
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Never knew about this. Great fun to learn a little bit and see some great pictures. Thanks!
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Thank you Lowell!
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Beautiful shots, Kim. I’d never seen this kind of gull before.
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Thanks so much Mike; nor had I. They are feeding with Ring-billed gulls, which are similar in color but larger. If you see a flock of Ring-billeds at this time of year, the Bonaparte’s may very well be amongst the group.
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I think there are 26 types of gulls in the No. Atlantic
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Very interesting to know that and I am surely going to be looking at every flock of gulls alot more closely after my Bonaparte’s encounters!
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Excellent thanks Kim! Very nice and they are so fun to watch with tosh up kicking up for balance and to get down there…Breath holders always aware of their surroundings too! I had one land on my shoulder fishing off break wall Lanes Cove “sort of scared me at first” but then we just both looked at each other and continued on with the fishing stayed about 5 -10 mins then on way – like waiting to see what I reeled in! 🙂 Dave & Kim 🙂
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Wow what a great experience Dave. Thank you for sharing. They allow me to get so close to photograph and I had read they are sociable–but that’s incredible!
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They allow you to get so close is because of your connection to your surrounds and they sense the great spirit from within a messenger! We also learned from the old fisherman (Wisdom Keepers) when reeling in around gulls on break wall or water keep the fish well below the water line if skimming the top gull will come in and try to scoop and go and if they swallow the hook bad results all the way around!
Keep up the Excellent work and I enjoy the walks too without even being there (Which of course I cannot explain that in words you have to live it real world and stays resident in spirit)! happy Labor day 🙂 Dave & Kim :-_
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Happy Labor Day to you and Kim Dave 🙂
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Splendid post Kim…thanks for your great work!
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Thank you so much Al. I was out again early this morning and encountered the flock very unexpectedly, this time resting and sleeping, with some juveniles, too!
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