Atlas - fuzzy gulls
I was surprised this morning, while birding at the East River marsh complex
at the Madison/Guilford line to see some lumps on an offshore rock turn
into gull chicks. The rock was about 15 feet high by 20 feet wide and three
fairly large but still downy and flightless gulls were on the top. Also on
there with them was an adult Great Black-backed Gull. That strongly
suggested what species they were, and when they began to beg the adult by
touching its bill with theirs I think the ID was confirmed. A second adult
subsequently joined the group. There was no nest visible but they clearly
were born on that rock, since they couldn't fly, and and I'm pretty sure
they can't swim. Actually if they could, I'm sure they couldn't scramble up
the steep sides of the rock. Where was the nest? I have to assume the back
side of the rock had a ledge or some configuration that could hold a nest.
I don't know how one might distinguish these from Herring Gulls if the
adults were not involved. It might be easy, but right now I don't know the
answer.
Greg Hanisek
Waterbury
While it’s unusual to find gulls nesting on a large isolated rock offshore, we have seen this in the Norwalk Islands the last few years. We have seen at least two pairs of Great Black-backed Gulls on “not much of a nest” and then with newly hatched young this year, one pair on a rock and the other on an “aid to navigation” marking Norwalk Harbor. I guess they decided Goose Island was too overcrowded and chose to go it alone on East White Rocks or share the
harbor marker “condo”with several Double-crested Cormorant pairs and their young.We have not seen this behavior with Herring Gulls yet.
Tina Green
Westport
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 14, 2018, at 5:21 PM, Gregory Hanisek via CTBirds ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org wrote:
I was surprised this morning, while birding at the East River marsh complex
at the Madison/Guilford line to see some lumps on an offshore rock turn
into gull chicks. The rock was about 15 feet high by 20 feet wide and three
fairly large but still downy and flightless gulls were on the top. Also on
there with them was an adult Great Black-backed Gull. That strongly
suggested what species they were, and when they began to beg the adult by
touching its bill with theirs I think the ID was confirmed. A second adult
subsequently joined the group. There was no nest visible but they clearly
were born on that rock, since they couldn't fly, and and I'm pretty sure
they can't swim. Actually if they could, I'm sure they couldn't scramble up
the steep sides of the rock. Where was the nest? I have to assume the back
side of the rock had a ledge or some configuration that could hold a nest.
I don't know how one might distinguish these from Herring Gulls if the
adults were not involved. It might be easy, but right now I don't know the
answer.
Greg Hanisek
Waterbury
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For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org
I photographed Great Black-backed Gull on nest on rock just off shore at
Waterford Beach a few weeks ago. Haven't been back since, too many Atlas
Blocks to work! At Millstone Station we have (as usual) a number of Herring
Gull nests, some with chicks now, scattered on rooftops on site. Peregrine
chick looks close to fledging too. No evidence yet of additional chicks.
Nest is inaccessible.
Dave Provencher
Preston
On Thu, Jun 14, 2018, 6:15 PM Tina and Peter Green via CTBirds <
ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote:
While it’s unusual to find gulls nesting on a large isolated rock
offshore, we have seen this in the Norwalk Islands the last few years. We
have seen at least two pairs of Great Black-backed Gulls on “not much of a
nest” and then with newly hatched young this year, one pair on a rock and
the other on an “aid to navigation” marking Norwalk Harbor. I guess they
decided Goose Island was too overcrowded and chose to go it alone on East
White Rocks or share the
harbor marker “condo”with several Double-crested Cormorant pairs and their
young.We have not seen this behavior with Herring Gulls yet.
Tina Green
Westport
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 14, 2018, at 5:21 PM, Gregory Hanisek via CTBirds <
ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote:
I was surprised this morning, while birding at the East River marsh
complex
at the Madison/Guilford line to see some lumps on an offshore rock turn
into gull chicks. The rock was about 15 feet high by 20 feet wide and
three
fairly large but still downy and flightless gulls were on the top. Also
on
there with them was an adult Great Black-backed Gull. That strongly
suggested what species they were, and when they began to beg the adult by
touching its bill with theirs I think the ID was confirmed. A second
adult
subsequently joined the group. There was no nest visible but they clearly
were born on that rock, since they couldn't fly, and and I'm pretty sure
they can't swim. Actually if they could, I'm sure they couldn't scramble
up
the steep sides of the rock. Where was the nest? I have to assume the
back
side of the rock had a ledge or some configuration that could hold a
nest.
I don't know how one might distinguish these from Herring Gulls if the
adults were not involved. It might be easy, but right now I don't know
the
answer.
Greg Hanisek
Waterbury
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association
(COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit
http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA)
for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit
http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org