Gulls are a tricky bunch, defying easy identification.
It’s something to do with the perfect storm generated by a three-year cycle to maturity, different markings in each of those years for each species, and what I call “marking overlap,” in which a given year of one species looks like another year of another, if you see what I mean.
Anyway. Very complicated and, after all, anyone other than a birder sees just a seagull, and wonders what all the fuss is about.
My skill level in the arcane art of gull identification is best described as pre-beginner, so I take my fun from other aspects of the interaction. Like making up captions. Certainly not from getting detail in those white feathers . . .
If I stand really still, maybe she won’t see me . . .
Elegant. A term that rarely seems appropriate for a sea gull and that derives from your artistic eye.
Laurna – Maybe being caught so still is what gives it that elegance – a good reminder for me, who tends to rush about!
What I’d like to see are baby seagulls or baby pigeons or baby squirrels. One never does, it seems.
Barbara – Squirrels are born full-grown, I’m pretty sure, as are all devils. Not sure where the baby gulls and pigeons are hanging out. I’ll take that under advisement for a Senate Committee.