Laughing Gull at the Port Washington Harbor in Ozaukee County Wisconsin on February 28, 2018

I made a run up to Port Washington in Ozaukee County early this morning in hopes to see the Laughing Gull that was reported yesterday. Upon arriving at 7:00 am, I could see the adult Laughing Gull after making about 10 steps away from the car.  Wow, what a stunning gull! This gull is rare here as it is a East Coast bird that. The gull was located at the rough beach-sandy shore on the north end of the marina. The bird pretty much ate most of the time I observed it, on and off during a 3 hour stay, I traveled to Coal Dock Park for awhile and then returned. Ring-billed Gulls gave it a hard time on and off with a little chasing. The harbor was full of gulls everywhere you looked. Hopefully more rare birds will be found at this location as it has been really great most of the winter. Birders I have not seen for awhile showed for this gull, Daryl T, Tom W, Ted K and John M. We all had a fun time enjoying the great show the gull put on and talking bird stories too. A big thank you to Barry Baumann for finding this bird yesterday and getting the word out for others to see it. This was not a life bird as I saw one at Coal Dock Park back in June of 2014. It was a beautiful morning with mild temps, low winds, and mostly sunny skies. Images were taken on February 28, 2018.

Laughing Gull, wet head just after some bathing…

Laughing Gull

Binomial name: Larus Atricilla

Category: Gulls,Terns, and Skimmers

Size: 16.5” long, 40” wing span

Weight: 11 Oz

Cool Fact: Normal range for this gull is the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of the United States.

Laughing Gull, incoming to the beach area…

Laughing Gull, incoming to the beach area…

Laughing Gull, incoming to the beach area…

Laughing Gull, incoming to the beach area…

Laughing Gull, incoming to the beach area…

Laughing Gull, incoming to the beach area…

Laughing Gull, went from fish to fish eating inside parts of the fish…

Laughing Gull, went from fish to fish eating inside parts of the fish…

Laughing Gull, went from fish to fish eating inside parts of the fish…

Laughing Gull, went from fish to fish eating inside parts of the fish…

Laughing Gull, went from fish to fish eating inside parts of the fish…

Laughing Gull, wet head, series of the gull bathing…

Bathing…

Bathing…

Bathing…

Bathing…

Bathing…

Preening…

Typically setting today for the Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gulls everywhere!

Ring-billed Gull charging the Laughing Gull some, this happened frequently…

More feeding…this was on going…

Feeding…

Ring-billed Gull with a fish…

Ring-billed Gull with a fish…

Ring-billed Gull with a fish…..it was all fish eaters there today!

 

 

 

Laughing Gull

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

Laughing Gull

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.

Laughing Gull

Laughing Gull

Laughing Gull

Laughing Gull

Laughing Gull

Laughing Gull

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