Plum Island-Gulls

Yeseree folks, another gull post. But this time it's not the Herring or Ring-billed, it's the Great Black-backed gull which I haven't posted about in well over two months now!

We saw quite a few gulls while at Plum Island including the regulars but it was a welcome site to see the various Great Black-backed Gulls in all of their various stages of plumage (dependent upon their age). This is what I believe to be a second summer (or second cycle) gull based on the fact that there is not that much streaking on it's breast like the first summer gull. I also noticed in the close up picture above that it's bill is not as dark as the first summer in one of the pictures I googled to compare it to.

Anyhow, onto the pictures. This gull was in the midst of quite a few other gulls and we were fortunate enough to be around while it was having its breakfast. I have put the photos in the order in which the bird was eating the fish. Check out the deep concentration in its face!
The second one cracks me up. Seriously! Gulls are not at all graceful when eating like raptors are. A hawk will inhale its meal but it does so in swift and continuous bites. Not this bird though! He has to make sure he gets it down really quickly before one of the adult Great Black-backed Gulls comes and takes it away from him. It's a tough life being a gull on Plum Island so you have to defend your meal at all costs!


Different angle which will show you the size of the fish compared to the gull!

And then what I think is the impossible. It is able to get most of the body down and all that is left is a fin of some sort?? Love how its looking into the camera. Almost looks as if it's saying "you didn't think I could do it, did you?"

Hmmmmmm. Now to try and figure out how to go about eating it now without choking! Probably wondering if the fin is edible or something to be left for the various Herring Gulls that were scattered about the area.
We left before we could see if the gull was finally able to polish off the fish whole, but let me tell you it was very interesting to see. I am so used to seeing the gulls at Target, Price Chopper, PetSmart, Building 19, Trader Joes, Barnes and Noble, Stop & Shop and Burger King on Grafton Street, etc and they are living the good life compared to these ones. The lazy gulls at Burger King just live off the fries in the dumpster and unsuspecting children, these ones have to work for their meal!

That's it for Plum Island pictures. Take care.