Glaucous Gulls at Johnson Creek in Jefferson County Wisconsin on February 3, 2017

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