Bonaparte’s Gull at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 1, 2015

Birding Lakeshore State Park this morning produced an adult Bonaparte’s Gull, nonbreeding plumage. It was hanging out with about 20 Ring-billed Gulls. All the gulls were flushed with a fire department group coming in for some underwater diving practice. The Bonaparte’s Gull did not return to the area after it headed out over the water. I also had a distant views of 4 Horned Lark but a jogger unknowingly flush the bird and they headed up high and south. Plentiful were Dark-eyed Juncos, White-crowned Sparrows and Double-crested Cormorants. Partly cloudy, stiff winds and cold temps made for winter coat weather on the lakefront. Images were taken on October 1, 2015.

Bonaparte’s Gull, adult nonbreeding plumage

Bonaparte’s Gull

Binomial name: Larus philadelphia

Category: Gulls, Tern, and Skimmers

Size: 13.5” long, 33” wing span

Weight: 7.0 oz

Bonaparte’s Gull with Ring-billed Gulls

Bonaparte’s Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull preening

Bonaparte’s Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull with Ring-billed Gulls

Bonaparte’s Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

Headed over the water, Bonaparte’s Gull

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For Reference Only

Bonaparte’s Gull in breeding plumage. Image taken at North Point Sheboygan Wisconsin on June 17, 2013