Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: Rob'in'To on April 22, 2013, 06:59:49 AM

Title: Bonaparte's Gulls
Post by: Rob'in'To on April 22, 2013, 06:59:49 AM

Always nice to have a lifer times 3 dozen plus when out.   :)

(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/rick_zps54bb17a3.jpg) (http://s280.photobucket.com/user/lilevl13/media/rick_zps54bb17a3.jpg.html)

You can see they are a smaller Gull compared to the common Ring-billed.
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/rick5_zpsf1f603f5.jpg) (http://s280.photobucket.com/user/lilevl13/media/rick5_zpsf1f603f5.jpg.html)

We stood in this muddy field for 10 or 15 minutes and watched them do their thing.  Some slept, some swam and splashed around and half the group far off on the other end flew in to join the others.  It was great!
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/rick4_zps4b3755b3.jpg) (http://s280.photobucket.com/user/lilevl13/media/rick4_zps4b3755b3.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Bonaparte's Gulls
Post by: farmer on April 22, 2013, 07:17:47 AM

Lifers give a rewarding feeling! These birds are so much prettier when they have their "full cap" on.

Title: Re: Bonaparte's Gulls
Post by: Rotarran on April 22, 2013, 08:57:00 PM

Thanks for sharing Rob'in'To.  Whereabouts was this?

Title: Re: Bonaparte's Gulls
Post by: Rob'in'To on April 22, 2013, 11:46:19 PM

Out in Cayuga.  I'm not a big Gull guy, just never gave them all much thought over the years...  but these were cool little Gulls.

Title: Re: Bonaparte's Gulls
Post by: Rotarran on April 22, 2013, 11:51:21 PM

These are among my favourite Gulls.  I look forward to when they show up in more significant numbers in the Toronto area.

Title: Re: Bonaparte's Gulls
Post by: Rob'in'To on April 24, 2013, 08:52:12 AM

I wasn't aware they come around the Toronto area; but that could also because as I mentioned, never was big on Gulls.  Cool.  Must keep an eye on reports.

Title: Re: Bonaparte's Gulls
Post by: thouc on April 24, 2013, 10:22:39 AM

They are at Second Marsh in Oshawa in large numbers at this time of year. Yesterday 2000 Bonaparte's and 12 Little Gulls were reported. Otherwise I believe they are pretty sporadic in the GTA.

Title: Re: Bonaparte's Gulls
Post by: Rotarran on April 25, 2013, 01:39:26 PM

Thanks for the tip.  Headed out to 2nd Marsh today and spotted a lot of Bonaparte's.  Must have been thousands.  Took some pics, may post them tonight if they came out ok.  Didn't see much else of significance other than a Brown Thrasher, some Blue Jays and a Common or Caspian Tern.  Have pic of the Tern so ID is possible.  Didn't see the Little Gulls but they may be in some of the pics accidentally...we'll see when I get home later.