Sept. 6, 2020 - Gulls

Last Wednesday, Diana and I took a day trip to Two Harbors, MN, which is a port city along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Almost all the birds along the shore were Ring-billed Gulls so I took pictures of some of them.

GullRingbilledflightTwoHarbors20200902

This photo leaves no doubt about how the Ring-billed Gull got its name! During the breeding season, they have an all-white head and neck. This bird is showing dark spots on its head and neck which is typical of its non-breeding plumage.

GullRingbilledTwoHarbors20200902

This is a juvenile Ring-billed Gull. It would have hatched this summer. Its brown speckled plumage will take two years to gradually change to the gray and white plumage of an adult.

GullRingbilledjuvenileTwoHarbors20200902

This gull was giving its raucous call as I photographed it. Notice the bright red lining on the inside of the mouth.

GullRingbilledcallngTwoHarbors20200902

Most of the gulls were lounging on shore, but a few of them were out on Lake Superior.

GullRingbilledTwoHarbors20200902

This gull caught my attention because it stood out as looking different than the others. First of all, it was noticeably larger. It also has a more sloped head and a sharper curve at the end of its bill. This is a juvenile Herring Gull and was the only one among the flock of Ring-billed Gulls.

GullHerringjuvenileTwoHarbors20200902