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

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About admin

Window to Wildlife features the photography of Jim Edlhuber. A lifelong native of Wisconsin, Jim has been photographing wildlife for 20 years. He considers himself an avid photographer and is always trying to capture nature and wildlife through his lens. He is in several photography clubs and has won numerous awards for his work. In recent years, Jim has focused mostly on birding photography and finds it to be the most challenging.

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