2010-08-02

Walking with the gulls

Yes, we did! The gulls were congregating in a parking lot across from where we went to get our iced coffee last night.


And amongst them is this dark fellow. Well, we are just a bit too far away to see clearly if he is just a brown gull or something else.


Then a few of the came over to the lot we were parked in and while this isn't the dark one, he might be related. So, we decided to drive over and get a closer look (yes, drive, it is one of the busiest streets in the city, you don't cross it on foot).


I think he is a gull, but couldn't find anything in Wikipedia or WhatBird to confirm. He flies like a gull and has the same webbed feet, so if anyone knows any differently please let me know.


So many of them were sitting like decoys on a pond though and let us walk quite close to them. Then they walked along with us.

Have a good day all....and those in Canada that have the day off - enjoy!

17 comments:

BSOB said...

he couldve been sporting his summer tan perhaps (or she). gulls can be pretty bold sometimes. i like hearing them and watching them ride on the wind currents

Reb said...

Oh, so that's it! Thanks for clearing that up Ben ;)

Jay said...

They were getting together to plan their attack.

Leah J. Utas said...

Cool gull photos, Reb. I suspect the odd-coloured ones are immature. Haven't the foggiest which variety though.

Reb said...

Jay, that could be... that was only about 1/3 as many as I get in the school yard behind my place though!

Leah, that's what I thought, but, the others seemed to be ignoring him/her when we were across the street.

the Bag Lady said...

According to my bird book ("Birds of Alberta"), he is probably an immature Ring-billed Gull - grey back; brown wings and breast, dar-banded tail; dark-tipped bill.
Ring-billed gulls are the common "sea-gull" in Alberta. (It goes on to say that most of the gulls in Edmonton commute daily from Big Lake, near St. Albert).

You're welcome.

the Bag Lady said...

(that's supposed to read "dark-banded tail".... oops.)

messymimi said...

Gulls are interesting and adaptable birds. They will congregate anywhere that they have learned has a good food supply, and are being found further and further inland in many places.

They can also be quite bold. The ones at Disney World in Florida will dive bomb people to take food away from them!

Nice pictures.

Reb said...

Thanks Sis! I thought s/he might be immature, but the way the others seemed to be ignoring/avoiding him/her, was strange.

Messymimi, they certainly are that. There are a few restaurants in that area too, so good pickings from the garbage - well, for them I imagine.

Hilary said...

I was thinking a juvenile herring gull but I'll bow to Baggie's expertise. ;)

Frank Baron said...

Gulls are interesting, intelligent, and adaptable birds. They're among my favourites. (Generally, the fish they're after are smaller than the fish I'm after so I don't see them as rivals.) ;)

Reb said...

Hilary, I find I have to do that too once in awhile ;)

Frank, I enjoy watching them playing in the wind and they are so clever.

ethelmaepotter! said...

Stopping by to say thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a sweet comment!

Seagulls, for some reason, have drifted so far inland they now inhabit mall parking lots in Tennessee! I was on the beach ( in Florida) one time; we had stopped at McDonalds for burgers, and the gulls flocked around. When I got up from our blanket to snap pictures, one bold gull flew off with my entire Big Mac!

I scrolled down and found your post about the birds. PERFECT!!!!
We built a house for some starlings a few months ago; then we discovered what pests starlings are about the same time my cat had her first starling meal. Now sweet little bluebirds have taken the house!

LOVE your cat! We once had a cat that LOOKED like a Himalayan, but wasn't. Dasha, she was named. Dumb as a box of rocks. But beautiful beyond belief.

David Cranmer said...

Great pics!

Reb said...

Ethmaepotter, thanks for dropping by. Yes, gulls are amazing thief's ;) I'm glad bluebirds have taken over the house and hopefully your cat won't find out what they taste like.

David, thanks.

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Reb said...

Not if you want to be anonymous!