June 25, 2012 The first of the Heermann’s Gulls arrived at the rock today. They will be around for the next six months. This gull is quite a bit smaller than the Western Gull, and I have on occasion seen the falcons take them down. For most of the year, we have three predominant gulls, Western with pink legs, Heermann’s with black legs, Ring-billed with yellow legs. The falcons are very active in taking down the downy Western Gull chicks, two today in three hours. Cleve Nash and I have been watching one nest site of gulls. On the 22nd of June, there were three young, today the 25th there are two. When I watched them take eleven chicks in five days, I stopped counting. This is real bird control, nature’s way. -Bob
The photo below is by Cleve Nash. Our gratitude to Cleve for these fine photos. His work can be see at www.clevenash.com
Interesting about the Heermann’s Gull. I saw my first one today out at the rock. There was only one. What is interesting is their kleptoparasitizing of the Brown Pelicans – stealing food right out of their mouths! Go figure! :O)