Some pics of a Bonaparte's Gull doing their thing and hanging with their homies at Pt. Lookout yesterday.
Bonaparte's Gulls are very small gulls that are similar to terns in appearance and behavior. For example, they dive for prey, unlike other gulls. Like other gulls, they are versatile feeders, but they haven't adapted to scavenging at landfills. In the boreal north, where they breed, and along their migratory routes south, they feed on insects and berries, along with aquatic organisms. I've noticed that they associate with the enormous flocks of Brants (geese) in our area, probably as protection from predators. #birds #birding #birdphotography #gulls #bonapartesgull #biodiversity #wildlife #wildlifephotography

A lot of birders don't bother with gulls. I get it, If they aren't stealing your lunch they're confounding you with the near impossibility of distinguishing between species unless you are dealing with breeding adults and sometimes not even then. But, they are fascinating creatures, and worth the effort to get to know. If I hadn't started paying attention, I wouldn't even have known that these small, beautiful Bonaparte's Gulls come and visit us this time of year.

#bonapartesgull #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birdphotography #explorebc #canada #birdingbc #vogel #oiseau

There are people who will tell you that gulls are easy to identify. They are lying. For those of us who live in BC, we very rarely get any gulls with black heads aside from these guys. So, at least a couple of times a year I get to cast my eyes upon the water and say "Ahh a Bonaparte's" without checking my spreadsheet or demanding that it show me the colour of it's legs.

#nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birdphotography #explorebc #canada #birdingbc #bonapartesgull

... and a Bonaparte's Gull, also at Pt. Lookout, NY
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#nature #NaturePhotography #birds #Wildlife #naturecommunity #photography #BirdsOfMastodon #birdphotography #birding #bonapartesgull