Shorebirds

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

By admin | June 11, 2014 - 5:29 pm |June 30, 2014 Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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.

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.

Bonaparte’s Gull – adult

Laughing Gull – adult

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

Bonaparte’s Gull – adult

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

Bonaparte’s Gull – adult

Bonaparte’s Gull – in flight!

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1st summer

American White Pelicans – North Point Sheboygan

Caspian Tern

Little Gulls at North Point Sheboygan Wisconsin June 10, 2014

By admin | June 11, 2014 - 5:41 am |June 30, 2014 Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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I decided to make a run up to North Point in Sheboygan Wisconsin to see what gulls were hanging out. There have been some nice gull species reported and I was not let down. Literally 1,000’s of them with 2 Little Gulls – 1st summer, being the highlight for the day as we know they are not very common. Other gull species, 100’s of Bonaparte’s, along with the common Herring and Ring-billed gulls. I witnessed a confrontation with the 2 Little Gulls which was very exciting. The early morning sunlight gave some beautiful color to these birds. Images were taken on June 10, 2014.

Little Gull

Binomial name: Larus minutus

Category: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Size: 11” long, 24” wing span

Weight: 4.2 oz.

Habitat: Typically breeds in shallow freshwater marshes and wetlands. Natural range is Central Europe east to southern Siberia. It is common to winter in small numbers along the east coast of North America and on the Great Lakes.

Diet: Small fish, aquatic insects and invertebrates

Nesting: A nest is built among marsh vegetation lined with grass and leaves. 2-6 eggs are laid olive-brown in color with dark spots.

Cool facts: Smallest gull in the world that is often found hanging out with the Bonaparte’s Gull.

Little Gull in front, Bonaparte’s Gull behind.

Stretching

Takeoff!

Little Gull in front, Bonaparte’s Gull behind.

Little Gull left, Ring-billed Gull middle, Bonaparte’s Gull right.

Little Gull right, Bonaparte’s Gull left.

2 Little Gulls in confrontation.

Resolved!

Landing!

Stretching!

Going down!

Little Gull right-front, Bonaparte’s Gull left and in back.

Landing!

Takeoff!

Caspian Tern

By admin | April 26, 2014 - 7:09 pm |May 2, 2014 Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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I birded the Milwaukee lakefront this morning for a short period of time. The highlight was Caspian Terns. There were a small amount present on Bradford Beach sitting with many Ring-billed Gulls. There were also a small group of them fishing for food over at McKinley Marina. 5 Black-crowned Night-Herons were on the east side of the Veterans Park Lagoon, and recent ducks that have been reported are still present. I observed many large flocks of Double-crested Cormorants flying north far out over the water, and some flocks very high up over the shoreline. Beautiful morning to be out with lots of sunshine, but the steady northeast winds made it almost feel like winter. Photographs were taken on April 26, 2014 on the lakefront in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Caspian Tern

Binomial name: Sterna caspia

Category: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Size: 21” long, 50” wing span

Weight: 1.4 lbs.

Habitat: Main breeding habitats are large lakes, ocean coasts, river and barrier islands and marsh in salt water in the Northwestern US and scattered places though out Canada.

Diet: Mainly fish but have been known to also eat large insects and crayfish.

Nesting: They typically nest in colonies. The nest is nothing more than a shallow scrape on the ground made of shell parts, dried plant material and pebbles located in sand or gravel. The rim of the nest may also be topped off with sticks. 1-3 buff eggs are laid which both sexes incubate and they also both care for the young.

Cool Facts: Largest tern in the world. Caspian Terns winter in parts of the southern US and Mexico, some are permanent residents on the California coast. This species flies over the water searching for food. When they locate their food, they plunge straight down into the water to get it. Sometimes they remain under the water for seconds, looks as if they have disappeared. Then they just take flight right out from under the water, pretty amazing!

Fish in mouth!

Hunting for food.

Ring-billed Gull chasing the Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern – Racine North Beach April 30, 2013

Caspian Terns – Racine North Beach April 30, 2013

Caspian Tern with a Forster's Tern (right front) - Racine North Beach April 30, 2013

Caspian Terns with a Forster’s Tern (right front) – Racine North Beach April 30, 2013

Forster’s Tern – Horicon Marsh May 5, 2010

Great Black-backed Gull

By admin | December 1, 2013 - 10:20 am |December 1, 2013 Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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Great Black-backed Gull. Photographs taken at Wind Point and Shoop Park in Racine County, Wisconsin on November 30, 2013.

Great Black-backed Gull

Binomial name: Larus marinus

Category: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Description: The largest member of the gull family. White feathers with grayish-black backs and wings. The wings have white wingtips. Pink legs, strong yellow or pinkish-yellow bill.

Size: 25” – 31” long, 4’ 10” – 5’ 7” wingspan

Weight: 1.7 lbs. – 5.1 lbs.

Habitat: Rocky and sandy coastal shorelines, ponds, lakes, and marshes

Diet: 50% or more of their diet is often garbage or human refuse. They also eat fish, insects, crabs, smaller birds, chick eggs, and land animals such as rats.

Nesting: Both parents build several nests on or near stacks of rocks or fallen logs. The female chooses the best one, and it is lined with grass, seaweed, and other vegetation or garbage such as rope and pieces of plastic. The female will lay a clutch of 3 eggs and both parents incubate them for about 28 days. Both parents raise the hatchlings, take turns finding food. The breeding pair will reuse the same nesting site year after year.

Notes: Great Black-backed Gull feathers were used in clothing while feathers were fashionable in the late 1800’s. Once the trend ended, populations began to increase. This trend continues with the increase in refuse sites across North America and Europe.

To view the gallery of images, please click here.

Horicon Marsh, WI July 29, 2013

By admin | July 29, 2013 - 6:10 pm |August 7, 2013 Bitterns, Herons, and Allies, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers, Pelicans, Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

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Photographs from Horicon Marsh, Fond du lac/Dodge County, Wisconsin taken July 29, 2013.

Black-crowned Night Heron

Baby Common Moorhen

Juvenile American White Pelicans

Juvenile American White Pelican

Juvenile Black Tern

Great Egret

To view the full gallery of images, please click here.

Laughing Gull

By admin | July 17, 2013 - 12:45 pm |August 7, 2013 Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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Photographs taken in North Point, Sheboygan, WI, on June 17, 2013.

Laughing Gull

Binomial name: Leucophaeus atricilla

Category: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Description: White body with dark gray back and wings with a black head. In the winter, the black head will fade to white. Dark red bill and legs.

Size: 14” – 16” long, 39” – 43” wingspan

Weight: 7 oz. – 13 oz.

Habitat: Coastal shorelines, beaches, ponds, and marshes

Diet: Insects, earthworms, snails, fish, squid, crabs, berries, garbage

Nesting: They nest in large colonies (up to 50,000 birds) on beaches or other shorelines. The nest is made of grasses and is usually built on the ground (or on rocks or dead plant materials) by both the male and female. Sometimes the male will build a nest in hopes of attracting a suitable breeding partner. The female will lay 1 brood per season with 3-4 eggs. She will incubate the eggs for 21 days.

Notes: The name “laughing gull” comes from its call which sounds like a high-pitched laugh.

To view the full gallery of images, please click here.

Little Gull

By admin | July 16, 2013 - 12:55 pm |August 7, 2013 Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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Photographs taken in North Point, Sheboygan, WI, on June 17, 2013.

Little Gull

Binomial name: Hydrocoloeus minutus

Category: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Description: Light gray body, gray wings with white wingtip and a black head. In the winter, the black head will fade to white. Dark red legs and a black bill.

Size: 10” – 12” long, 24” – 31” wingspan

Weight: 2.4 oz. – 5.7 oz.

Habitat: Freshwater shorelines of lakes, ponds, rivers, and marshes

Diet: Flying insects, fish, crayfish, snails, and leeches

Nesting: The nest is made of floatable grasses or other vegetation and is usually built on the ground adjacent to shallow water. The female will lay 1 brood per season with 1-4 eggs. Although the chicks are able to begin leaving the nest after only 3 days, they take 3 years to reach maturity.

Notes: Commonly found across Europe and Asia, Little Gulls are rare birds in North America. However, their numbers have been increasing since the 1960’s and they are regular visitors to both the East Coast and the Great Lakes of the Midwest. They may be seen in flocks with Bonaparte’s Gulls.

To view the full gallery of images, please click here.

Lesser Black-backed Gull at Johnson Creek in Jefferson County Wisconsin on December 18, 2012

By admin | June 19, 2013 - 7:50 pm |February 12, 2015 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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A hot spot for gulling in the cold winter months of the year is the dump and Kohl’s parking lot in Johnson Creek Wisconsin. It can provide nice views of some winter wandering gulls. Today one of the gulls present was a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Images were taken on December 18, 2012.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Binomial name: Laris fuscus

Category: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Size: 21” long, 54” wing span

Weight: 1.8 lb

Bonaparte’s Gull

By admin | June 10, 2013 - 5:52 pm |January 21, 2014 Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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Bonaparte’s Gull photographed at South Metro, Oak Creek WI. on November 8, 2010 and at North Point in Sheboygan WI. June 17, 2013.

Bonaparte Gulls with a couple of Ring-billed Gulls

Bonaparte Gulls with a couple of Herring Gulls

Ring-billed Gull – hatch year at Bradford Beach on the Milwaukee Wisconsin lakefront December 3, 2014

By admin | June 9, 2013 - 4:37 pm |December 5, 2014 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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Doing some birding on the lakefront in Milwaukee today I came across a gull just a little smaller than the rest. A hatch year Ring-billed Gull along with it some adult Ring-billed Gulls and Herring Gulls too. Some images from today at the beach. Images were taken on December 3, 2014.