Back in the dim and distant past I used to try to find 'interesting' gulls in the UK - all with a consistent level of failure I must say. I still scan gull flocks here, but the chance of finding anything other than a Silver Gull (our default 'sea-gull'), a massive looking Pacific Gull or the rather restricted Kelp Gull, are pretty slim.
These are some shots I took of Pacific Gulls that were loafing around on the beach at Walkerville, a small seaside community about 2 1/4 hours SE of Melbourne.
While scale is hard to judge, the size and shape of the beak gives a reasonable indication that this bird is huge. Large males can weigh over 1.5 kg and have a wingspan of almost 170 cm. The banded birds in these shots were either banded as chicks - or by people with no regard for their own safety!
This bird is in the 'classic' gull genus - Larus - and its specific name 'pacificus' is as misleading as its common name. In reality this is a bird of the Southern Ocean.
I rather like these birds - especially the juvenile doing a spot of yoga!
Now its over to you - click the blue button and off you go. And don't forget to visit other WBWers and to leave a comment to say you visited! Cheers SM.
Lovely images of these gulls Stewart
ReplyDeleteThey are great pictures. I am trying to get better at IDing gulls, but I do find them a bit tricky. We have been really lucky to have a Laughing Gull quite close to home recently. I think it is still at New Brighton on the Wirral now.
ReplyDeletethey do have some pretty serious beaks!
ReplyDeleteThat is an incredible bill.
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots, the Pacific Gull is daunting when you have large groups that are attracted to picnickers . I really like the shot of the juvenile.
ReplyDeleteI think our gulls bills are different..Great shots! I just saw the date on your post..I forgot..You are a day ahead of us?? I don't think I have any birds to share this week..Maybe I'll pull out a really old favorite..
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Pacific Gulls! Love their interesting bill. Glad you found these.
ReplyDeleteThey look like they could do some serious damage with those beaks ... are they aggressive like some Gulls can be? I love gulls ... they are a hoot to watch and great fisherman. Our most common gulls are the Ring Billed gulls, but we have many others pass through here during migration. We also have many Terns that are awesome to watch. Gulls have personality and they are survivers which is why I like them so much. Great post, Stewart :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
Have never seen a Pacific Gull.Their bills are huge, but they are striking to look at. Great pictures Stewart!:)
ReplyDeleteLove that "yogo doing" bird!! How fun! Terrific captures as always, Stewart! Hope your week is going well!!
ReplyDeleteGreat images Stewart. It's a big bruiser and that bill could certainly do some damage!
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wish we had fewer species but then it wouldn't be so much fun (or painful) scanning a few hundred looking for the odd one out.
Cool looking birds.
ReplyDeleteI love any kind of gull - they always seem so content where ever they are.
ReplyDeleteAwesome serie! Are these gulls special for Australia?
ReplyDeleteThe gull doing a yoga pose made me laugh! Nice shots!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the gulls, wish they would come up this way.
ReplyDeleteQuite an impressive looking gull. Great find and great shots.
ReplyDeleteLiving inland all my life, I never gained much experience with the gulls. Their various plumage phases and the interbeeding makes ID all the more difficult. I've never seen a gull with such a big beak!
ReplyDeleteThat bill is so distinct!!! Really amazing. Love gulls and their ID. This one seems like it would be easier to pick out among all the others! Nice pics!
ReplyDeleteVery handsome! The beaks are quite impressive!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of the Gulls. Any of those bigger gulls that make it up here are very special indeed.
ReplyDeleteI like that one-legged wing stretch.
ReplyDeleteWe don't get a great number of gulls here in Iowa, either, but the Mississippi River does bring a few. Like you, I always scan the groups for some weird outlier, but usually just the Ring-Billed and Herring. Cool how your boring and "normal" gulls would be lifers for me, though! Great shots.
ReplyDeleteIowa Voice
These are great shots!
ReplyDeleteI see these all the time at the coast but I still find them fascinating to watch. Their size is quite impressive!
ReplyDeleteHi Stewart, thanks for the interesting post on gulls. They do have interesting bills, don't they? I enjoyed the juveniles as well. This is my first post on SA birding; hopefully I'm back into joining your meme again. Have a great day. Jo
ReplyDeleteVery nice photos Stewart! Those beaks look like tools.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't help but notice the size of the bill. Impressive bird. The juvie has nice form, its yoga instructor must be proud. :)
ReplyDeleteSuperb images of these birds. Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your gull photos. We get some here on the coast as well but I'm not sure what kind.
ReplyDeleteThat Gull does have a huge beak. I don't want to fight over any food with him.
ReplyDeleteMB
Beautiful images of these gulls.
ReplyDeletePerfect photographed, Stewart.
Best regards, Irma
Love the bird doing yoga!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting WBW
They are impressive, Stewart! Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots, Stewart!
ReplyDeleteI do like the young bird stretching its wings--must be absorbing the warm sunlight!
ReplyDeleteThat baby gull is a heck of a lot better at balance poses than I am. All very nice pictures.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed before from your blog that our area of Florida looks a lot like Queensland... I think we'd feel right at home there (and I wish we could find out for sure!)
Those beaks do look formidable, Stewart! Great shots and thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteHi Stewart, I enjoyed your post about the gulls. Those colours in the beak are so beautiful, I always like to see them. Great photos, especially of the wing stretch :D)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your sea bird pictures.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures. I don't have many gulls here either, mainly because there isn't a lot of water.
ReplyDeleteHe sure has a menacing looking beak.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post.
ReplyDeleteHere in SE Asia I never see any gulls, and I miss 'em. I used to see thousands during every seaside holiday that I took as a kid in the UK.
Have a nice day.
That Yoga move is impressive. I always wonder why certain birds do that (not Yoga) but stand on one leg...:)JP
ReplyDeleteLove the yoga happening. Those gulls have seriously fat beaks. I wouldn't want to fight them for chip.
ReplyDelete