Category Archives: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

I went out to Johnson Creek, just north of the Kohl’s store out lots to check out a few gulls. Lots of gulls present, could have been ~300. Two gulls I could ID were the Glaucous Gull and a Lesser Black-blacked Gull. The Glaucous Gull, what I think is a 1st cycle, I only saw for a short time. It had a piece of what looked like meat from the landfill across the highway. A couple other Herring Gulls were close by wanting a piece of that meat. After some interaction, the Glaucous Gull took to the sky with the meat and that was the last I saw of it. The Lesser Black-backed Gull just sat or stood at a distance, stayed by it self. It was a bright sunny day with temps getting near 30 degrees, it felt good to see a warm up coming. Fun to watch a little gull action for a change. Images were taken on January 18, 2018.

Glaucous Gull, 1st cycle with a piece of meat in the snow in front of it with Herring Gulls around…

Glaucous Gull checking out the meat…

Glaucous Gull taking a look around…

Glaucous Gull, going to get out of here with this prize…

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull, going to the sky, the last I saw of this bird …

Lesser Black-backed Gull, adult

Lesser Black-backed Gull, adult

Lesser Black-backed Gull, adult

Lesser Black-backed Gull, adult

I have not been out to Johnson Creek in Jefferson County lately so I gave it a try mid morning. There were a lot of gulls over the dump but only a couple hundred loafed at the Kohl’s outlot south of I94. It was nice to see 2 Glaucous Gulls in the small group there. There was 1- 1st cycle and 1- adult present. They took flight a few times as there must have been something in the area that spooked them. A very cold day with some wind but the sun made it feel not too bad. Images were taken on February 3, 2017.

Glaucous Gull, adult

Glaucous Gull

Binomial name: Larus hyperboreus

Category: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Size: 27” long, 60” wing span

Weight: 3.1 lb

Habitat: This large gulls breeding grounds are in the northern arctic. It spends its winters farther north than most gulls on coasts, lakes, urban areas, dumps and agricultural fields. Mostly breeds along shorelines of the seacoast, rivers and lakes, also refuse dumps. These gulls are usually not found inland.

Diet: It captures prey such as plovers, small ducks, ptarmigans, auks, birds, small mammals and invertebrates. It also scavenges dead fish, carrion, garbage and dead animal matter.

Nesting: The nest is a shallow bowl constructed of twigs, grasses, sedges, moss and sometimes feathers. The nest is located on cliff edges, grass slopes above cliffs, islands or ponds on the tundra. 3 eggs are usually laid brown in color with dark brown spots.

Glaucous Gull, 1st cycle

Glaucous Gull, 1st cycle in the middle, it just landed

Glaucous Gull, 1st cycle loafing

Glaucous Gull, adult

Glaucous Gull, adult loafing

Glaucous Gull, adult

Glaucous Gull, adult

Glaucous Gull, 1st cycle

I birded the Milwaukee Lakefront this morning and the highlight was gulls. 1 Gluacous Gull juvenile at Bradford Beach. Other gulls were a Glaucous Gull adult and 2 Great Black-blacked Gulls adults near the petroleum pier on broken ice or on the pier itself. It was a cloudy day with stiff winds making it feel like a cold January day. Images were taken on February 24, 2016.

Glaucous Gull juvenile at Bradford Beach

Glaucous Gull

Binomial name: Larus hyperboreus

Category: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Size: 27” long, 60” wing span

Weight: 3.1 lb

Habitat: This large gulls breeding grounds are in the northern arctic. It spends its winters farther north than most gulls on coasts, lakes, urban areas, dumps and agricultural fields. Mostly breeds along shorelines of the seacoast, rivers and lakes, also refuse dumps. These gulls are usually not found inland.

Diet: It captures prey such as plovers, small ducks, ptarmigans, auks, birds, small mammals and invertebrates. It also scavenges dead fish, carrion, garbage and dead animal matter.

Nesting: The nest is a shallow bowl constructed of twigs, grasses, sedges, moss and sometimes feathers. The nest is located on cliff edges, grass slopes above cliffs, islands or ponds on the tundra. 3 eggs are usually laid brown in color with dark brown spots.

Glaucous Gull adult near the Petroleum Pier

Glaucous Gull Juvenile with Herring Gull right

Trying to keep its balance with the high winds!

Trying to keep its balance with the high winds!

Glaucous Gull adult at Bradford Beach 2/26/2016

Glaucous Gull adult at Bradford Beach on 2/26/2016