Friday, 22 November 2024

I was out looking for Donald's mysterious bird

 Donald described  it as:

"This bird has been swimming about in Brewery Bay for the past two days, and its tail is straight up when it dives. A bit smaller than a seagull. What is it?"

 

I did not see any gull when I first went over yesterday. In fact it wasn't until I was on my way home that I saw this:

 



 This is, I think, a Ring-billed gull, a medium size gull, maybe not quite in adult plumage.

 

Does this qualify as having its tail in the air while diving?




Or -






Maybe from shore even this might be thought of as "tail in the air"?



Anyway, interesting behavior.

And now bath time -


Followed by (h)air drying -



W O B

2 comments:

  1. Yes, probably a non-breeding Ring-billed Gull. Gulls are notoriously difficult to identify

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  2. Thanks. There are strong similarities with photos of second-winter Ring-billed, showing the tan streaks on the neck.
    https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ring-billed_Gull/photo-gallery/532264921

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