One of the issues I faced as a birder there, was 'translating' the common names of the birds I saw into a form with which I was familiar. According to my field guide, the birds in this post are Black-Backed Gulls, or to use the Maori name, Karoro. If I had seen the same bird in South America it would have been called a Dominican Gull, and if I had seen it at home I would have called it a Kelp Gull.
The bird is of course all of these and none of them at the same time. All over its distribution this bird is Larus dominicanus - its formal name giving us all the certainty I need, that, having seen Kelp Gulls in Australia, my life list had not clicked up by one when I saw a Black-Backed Gull in NZ.
In the past people have laughed at me for my interest in taxonomy - but I think this is a nice example of why its important. We can't know what things are unless we agree on a name - so here, in all its gully glory is Larus dominicanus.
If you look at the post from yesterday, you will find more images of the black sand beach on which I took these pictures.
These birds, like most wild gulls (rather than their chip loving urban cousins), are difficult to approach - so I was rather pleased with these images.
Now its your turn to be pleased with your images and to share them with the WBW community by clicking on the blue button below!
Isn't there a poem like that ? ...." A gull by any other name ....". They do look great against that black sand. I guess most of the gulls I ever see are secretly hoping I have chips. They don't approach me, but they don't fly away either. Thank you as always for hosting and teaching..
ReplyDeletea rose by any other name. . .
ReplyDeleteuh . . . nice photos
Beautiful photos! The yellow beaks really stand out!
ReplyDeleteHello, they are great shots of the gulls. They look similar to our Great Black-backed Gull.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting. Have a happy day and week ahead!
Nice images! They are big burly and aggressive birds, but handsome indeed.
ReplyDeleteThe beach wouldn't be the same without chip lovers. By any name.
ReplyDeleteFantastic big beast of a gull. Great pictures and you are right, a shared name is very important.
ReplyDeleteWhat else but black backed gulls on the black sands of New Zealand. Great pictures both here and on yesterday's post of the black sands. You seem to be endlessly knowledgeable about birds and sands and whatevers ... is it your work that exposes you to so much or are you just a voracious learner. Anyway, it is to our advantage as you are so willing to share with us your endless array of knowledge ... Thank you for that, it is always a pleasure to come over here.
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
Beautiful gulls...and the black sandy beaches....gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThe black sand is a good background for these birds..Good pictures.
ReplyDeleteHi Stewart, what a blessing for you to visit NZ. Here in South Africa this gull is the Kelp Gull. And [almost] identical to the ones you show. Thanks for hosting this meme. Greetings Jo
ReplyDeleteStunning photos! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
ReplyDeleteStewart, a rose by any other name. Great gulls. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI cannot even imagine being on that beach...beautiful sand and water...topped off with very dashing looking gulls!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteThe black sand makes a great background for these gulls. NZ looks like a lovely place, from what I've seen from this and other bloggers who live there. Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteNot that different from our gulls. Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteThe Black-backed Gulls are perfect, well photographed.
ReplyDeleteFabulous images, Stewart! I can totally understand your interest in taxonomy. Now to catch up on your other posts. I've been rather slack with blogging of late!
ReplyDeleteReally nice photos Stewart!
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit embarrassed to say that they just look like seagulls to me.
lol, yes I have the same problem. And to ad to that gulls are sometimes very hard to ID. I like gulls but so rarely bother to ID them anymore.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful opportunity. And you did catch some great shots.
ReplyDelete