In the previous post, I stated I saw a few different water birds. Not many, I've seen much much more at other times, but today instead of showing them on my bird photography blog at a later time, I thought I'd share them with you here for a change...
Along my 5 mile walk, I saw:
Well, wait. Let me back up a bit.
...you probably just use the moniker seagull just for a reference to the many many different species of gulls. But, let me reiterate, there is NO SUCH THING as a sea gull [or seagull if you prefer]. Never was, never will be. They have a name, just like the many hawks [red tailed, zone tailed etc.] or sparrows [chipping, house, lark, etc.] for example. They are more than likely in the same family/genus, but they are individual species, such as Ring-Billed, Laughing, Herring, Lesser Black Backed, Greater Black Backed, [over 50 different species around the world]. All gulls, but NOT seagulls. That was your lesson in Ornithology today. A bit of trivia you can play on others some time in the future....
Willet
Herring Gull [immature plumage]
Now, some Laughing Gulls. Some in breeding plumage [normally black beaks, black legs/feet...during breeding season, the beaks and feet/legs turn a bright red!] And the hunt for a mate begins. And eventually a happy ever after story unfolds....
Along my 5 mile walk, I saw:
Well, wait. Let me back up a bit.
...you probably just use the moniker seagull just for a reference to the many many different species of gulls. But, let me reiterate, there is NO SUCH THING as a sea gull [or seagull if you prefer]. Never was, never will be. They have a name, just like the many hawks [red tailed, zone tailed etc.] or sparrows [chipping, house, lark, etc.] for example. They are more than likely in the same family/genus, but they are individual species, such as Ring-Billed, Laughing, Herring, Lesser Black Backed, Greater Black Backed, [over 50 different species around the world]. All gulls, but NOT seagulls. That was your lesson in Ornithology today. A bit of trivia you can play on others some time in the future....
Willet
Herring Gull [immature plumage]
Now, some Laughing Gulls. Some in breeding plumage [normally black beaks, black legs/feet...during breeding season, the beaks and feet/legs turn a bright red!] And the hunt for a mate begins. And eventually a happy ever after story unfolds....
- "There’s no such thing as a seagull, according to certain pedants. How can that be? Because it’s a gull—actually, one of about fifty gull species living in habitats all over the world"
Nat. Geo
Tern in Flight and Ring-billed Gull
Great Blue Heron
The conclusion of this series: The reason I walked in this area, the sunrise through the zoom lens. Coming up in the next post.
Part I
Thanks for the lesson. Now I'm curious as to how everyone came to call them sea gulls. Love the picture at the very bottom on the right.
ReplyDeleteTo most, they look too similar to differentiate.
DeleteWe learned something new today. Beautiful Gulls and Mr Heron too. Happy April Thursday!
ReplyDelete😊🐦😊
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI did know there are a lot of different gull species. It is just easy to call them seagulls or just gulls. The breeders do look beautiful, showing off their colors. Great collection of photos. Take care, have a great day!
I figured you'd know the trivia. After all, you're a birder!!
DeleteI had no idea about gulls not being seagulls! As to the breeding plummage change, that sort of thing always stuns me. "What hath God wrought?"
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started birding, I didn't know about seasonal plumage changes. I learned quickly!!
DeleteI do good to know a seagull from an egret. ha ha.. so they will continue to be SeaGulls to me, but I will try to retain the info that gulls are not seagulls.. i like them all, even the loud laughing ones and of course your photos are wonderful as always. i can hear them now in my head
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you do just fine in ID'ing birds!!
DeleteThank you for the gull lesson, Anni. We have "seagulls" all around us here and I swear I shall never refer to them by that name again. It shall be "gulls" from now on! :-D ~Andrea xoxo
ReplyDeleteYes, gulls from now on.
DeleteWe always wondered why "seagulls" are here, flying over the lake! Now we'll call them gulls! Good lesson and information.
ReplyDeleteYep, no seagulls inland...gulls!!!
DeleteFantastic shots Anni! Now I think the photo I had in mind for the letter S for the A to Z challenge may be wrong lol.
ReplyDeleteROFL...let me guess.
DeleteI think I still might use it and thanks to you I'll put the proper name in there too. Sorry I called you Sandra on my blog, I have no idea how that happened lol. We'll just call it a senior moment!
DeleteSenior moment. Ok, gotcha.🐊
DeleteOkay, you made your point! But I'll probably call them seagulls anyway, even though they're all over Lake Erie and not the sea. (Unless they're scavenging in fast food parking lots. What are they then, I wonder? McGulls?)
ReplyDeleteNow THAT was hilarious. Rofl
DeleteA great series of close-ups with these gulls and others. I thought it ironic that the heron was captured in a photo with a sign that says, "Stay Off". Happy Birthday to Irene!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great observation.
DeleteSuper photos! I miss being at the beach as I love looking at all the birds there. I have only known about the gulls the last three years. I sat in on a nature talk given while I was on vacation. I found that fascinating as my whole life I had not known that. But I do love gulls, they have always been a favorite of mine.
ReplyDeleteI like 'em too.
DeleteInteresting and i didn't not know. Thanks. Now I'm off to hear what a Laughing Gull sounds like.
ReplyDeleteSounds like they're actually laughing.
DeleteWell, thank you for my lesson today.
ReplyDeleteI have lived around "Sea"Gulls all my life and never knew there was no such thing.
Fascinating...
Can't wait to see your sunrise photos.
Sue
Come back tomorrow. 🌞
DeleteToday my favorite is your lesson. As a birdwatcher, I had no idea about no Seagull! But this all makes sense, and I am glad to know it. Learned something very cool!!
ReplyDeleteI learned about it several years ago, but still I'm guilty using the term seagull.
DeleteHappy Birthday to Irene!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter to you!
🌷🌺🌸🎀🌸🌺🌷
I'm sure Irene has had a good day.
DeleteI had no idea there was all those different species of gulls! I still call them sea gulls and probably will forever! My daughter calls them rat birds!
ReplyDeleteThey are scavengers.
DeleteSomebody had already taught me that lesson, so I'm careful to label those gulls correctly. We sure have a lot of them around here! :-)
ReplyDeleteGood for you!!
DeleteSInce I have been birding, i have been using the name gull, when in doubt to which one it is, just like i would say hawk, when I can't identify it. The gulls are beautiful in their own way.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I like getting photos if I can so I CAN identify them.
DeleteThanks for the gull lesson - I'm guilty of calling them seagulls but no more! :)
ReplyDeleteI did (and still do when ID is a new one).
DeleteI love herons! I didn't know there were that many varieties of gulls.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to that sunrise!
Thank you for the education!
ReplyDeleteI dont see gulls of any kind very often...did not realize there were that many kinds.
ReplyDelete