Bonaparte's Gull Archives - Window to Wildlife

Bonaparte’s Gulls at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 15, 2019

I birded some of the lakefront this morning in Milwaukee and it was pretty slow. The only place I could find a little action was north of McKinley Beach at the gravel beach. There were Bonaparte’s Gulls feeding heavy there, about 20 of them, thinking these are all adults. Some Ring-billed Gulls were also present standing on the shore by the Bonaparte’s and appeared they weren’t happy that someone was in their fishing spot! After some shots, more Ring-billed Gulls came in and I left. I photographed the Bonaparte’s Gulls last year a few feet away at McKinley Beach on April 16, one day off! It was a beautiful morning even though there was 3″ of snow on the ground with 29 degrees when I walked along the shore. Images were taken on April 15, 2019.

Bonaparte’s Gull, adult

Something in the bill to eat…

Something in the bill, feeding on crustaceans or marine worms…

Something in the bill, probably feeding on crustaceans or marine worms…

Looking for something to eat, then the heads goes down and they get it…

Something in the bill…

Flying by…

Flying by….

Just before landing…

How they are grouped up sometimes when they feed along the shore, they sit in the waves at the shore…this is typical…

A close up…

Turning the head to grab something here…

Just looking for something to eat…

One of the Ring-billed Gulls watches from the shore, they are in my fishing spot!

The Bonaparte’s Gull in migration at Grant Park on Lake Michigan in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 1, 2017

By admin | May 1, 2017 - 2:00 pm |May 1, 2017 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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I hit Grant Park this morning with hopes to see some shorebirds. There were no shorebirds present but the Bonaparte’s Gull numbers were very impressive way out on the water. Only one time did one land on the beach when I was there. For the most part they were either moving north, sometimes south, and sometimes they would land for resting and feeding. Literally 1,000’s and 1,000’s of them what a treat to see! It would have been nice to have a different lens for this type of photography to get a better picture of the mass of gulls there were as it went as far as I could see north and south on the lake. It was a pleasant morning for a few hours but rain is on it’s way again. Images were taken on May 1, 2017.

One on the beach was it…

Some gulls were flying, some feeding and some resting…

Note the line of gulls on the horizon went on for as far as you could see in both directions

2-Bonaparte’s Gulls, adult in breeding plumage, 1 – 1st winter, correct me if I’m wrong.

Bonaparte’s Gull at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 1, 2015

By admin | October 1, 2015 - 6:25 pm |October 1, 2015 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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Birding Lakeshore State Park this morning produced an adult Bonaparte’s Gull, nonbreeding plumage. It was hanging out with about 20 Ring-billed Gulls. All the gulls were flushed with a fire department group coming in for some underwater diving practice. The Bonaparte’s Gull did not return to the area after it headed out over the water. I also had a distant views of 4 Horned Lark but a jogger unknowingly flush the bird and they headed up high and south. Plentiful were Dark-eyed Juncos, White-crowned Sparrows and Double-crested Cormorants. Partly cloudy, stiff winds and cold temps made for winter coat weather on the lakefront. Images were taken on October 1, 2015.