Bonaparte’s Gulls at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 16, 2018

Stopping at McKinley Beach this morning gave nice views of Bonaparte’s Gulls feeding in the wave action hitting the shore. We see them for a very short time in spring in migration so I tried to capture some of what they do while they make brief stops in the area heading north. It was a light snow flurry day with cool temps and still winter coat weather even though it is mid April with good snow on the ground. Images were taken on April 16, 2018

Bonaparte’s Gulls lined up along the wave action on the shoreline finding things to eat…

Something to eat in the bill….

Watching and waiting for the next piece of food….

Just waiting for the sight of food…

Feeding on the wave…

It’s a matter of survival, in search of food, it’s all eyes…

Looking and waiting for food…has something on the left…

One on the left has something…

On shore, did some preening….

Something in the bill…

Trying to balance here…

Just flew in…

It is all about getting something to eat…

Just flew in…

Got something to eat here..

Reaching for something….

Bonaparte’s Gull North Point and Laughing Gull Port Washington June 10, 2014

The Bonaparte’s Gull were plentiful at North Point in Sheboygan Wisconsin along with my previous post of the presence of the Little Gulls there. I also made a stop at the Port Washington Harbor and got distant views of the reported Laughing Gull. I view the gull from the Coal Dock Park there and almost missed it as it was way out on the side of a stone wall near the water. Some of the other species present at North Point in Sheboygan were 5 American White Pelicans and 10 Caspian Terns. To my understanding the Bonaparte’s are adults with the dark solid black hood and anything less of solid black is a 1st summer. Correct me if I am wrong, thank you! Images were taken on June 10, 2014.

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Bonaparte’s Gull – adult

Bonaparte’s Gull

Binomial name: Larus philadelphia

Category: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Size: 13.5” long, 33” wing span

Weight: 7 oz.

Habitat: Typically breeds near bogs or on lakes in coniferous forests in western Canada and Alaska. The Bonaparte’s spend winters on lakes, marshes bays and beach areas on coasts.

Diet: Small fish, aquatic insects and large invertebrates

Nesting: The open cup nest usually found in a tree but sometimes on the ground. The nest is constructed of sticks, small branches, tree bark and lined with lichens and moss material. Clutch size is 1-4 eggs that are greenish with dark spots on blotches.

Cool facts: The Bonaparte’s Gull is the only gull that commonly nests in a tree. The only gull smaller than the Bonaparte’s is the Little Gull. Often catches flying insects on their wings during the breeding season.

Bonapart'e Gull - adult

Bonaparte’s Gull – adult

Bonapart'e Gull - adult

Bonaparte’s Gull – adult

Bonapart'e Gull - adult

Bonaparte’s Gull – adult

Laughing Gull - adult

Laughing Gull – adult

Laughing Gull - adult

Laughing Gull – adult

Bonapart'e Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonapart'e Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonapart'e Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonapart'e Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonapart'e Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonapart'e Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonapart'e Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonapart'e Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonapart'e Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - adult

Bonaparte’s Gull – adult

Bonaparte's Gull - adult

Bonaparte’s Gull – adult

Bonaparte's Gull - adult

Bonaparte’s Gull – adult

Bonaparte's Gull - adult front right, Bonaparte's Gull 1st summer back left

Bonaparte’s Gull – adult front right, Bonaparte’s Gull 1st summer back left

Bonaparte's Gull - adult

Bonaparte’s Gull – adult

Bonaparte's Gull - adult

Bonaparte’s Gull – adult

Bonaparte's Gull - in flight!

Bonaparte’s Gull – in flight!

Bonaparte's Gull - in flight!

Bonaparte’s Gull – in flight!

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

American White Pelicans - North Point Sheboygan

American White Pelicans – North Point Sheboygan

American White Pelicans - North Point Sheboygan

American White Pelicans – North Point Sheboygan

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern