I know it’s not Monday, but it is the first day back after a nice holiday break. Same thing, or even worse…
This GBBG was spotted this past September during the local Audubon Society’s pelagic seabird trip to Carlyle Lake. The species is the largest gull found on the North American continent. They will eat any protein source they can find, including carrion and prey upon anything they can overpower, including smaller birds. This striking guy is a first-year bird and this species will not breed until their forth year. Interesting is the differences in behavior among these often difficult to distinguish gulls. This guy almost always flew solo and higher than the flocks of Ring-billed that constantly followed the boats.
“Great-Black-backed Gull, Autumn 2012”
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 