May 2014 – Central Oregon coast

While Western Gulls are common, scenes like this are rare.

Western Gull

November 2012 – Bandon, Oregon

Just another photo of a Western Gull, which I like… A wave crashed behind this gull, and it was just trying to keep its balance when I was able to get this.

Western Gull

May 2012 – Pistol River, Oregon

This Western Gull was scraping the back of an old crab shell – looking for any last morsel left behind… and not above trying to eat the shell itself. Maybe there was something left – a number of other birds were hovering nearby.

Western Gull

November 2009 – Bandon, OR

A Western Gull takes a rest on some rocks along the beach. This bird let me get pretty close. It didn’t look injured, just really comfortable, and not interested in flying away if it didn’t have to.

Western Gull

November 2015 – Hyde Park, London

These have solid black heads in breeding season, but these were all out of season, and/or perhaps younger birds. They’re common in the water around Hyde Park.

Black-headed Gull

September 2014 – Kachemak Bay, Alaska

These numerous birds are seen throughout the south-central Alaskan coast.

Black-legged Kittiwake

May 2014 – Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

Dozens of Black Terns were skimming across the water at this small lake in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. It was a challenge to get even these fleeting photos, as the birds were moving pretty fast.

Black Tern

Black Tern

May 2014 – Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

Yes, it’s a pretty blurry photo, but the only one I have of this relatively uncommon bird.

Franklin’s Gull

May 2014 – Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon
A Forster’s Tern glides over the wetlands… Not much else to say about this one.

Forster’s Tern

California Gull

September 2013 – Off the Oregon Coast

There were literally thousands of these gulls following a couple fishing boats that were pulling up nets bursting with fish. The California Gull changes plumage after about the 3rd year. This one is the juvenile plumage, as were most of the birds on this day.

California Gull

Heerman’s Gull

September 2013 – Oregon Coast

Gull species can be hard to identify sometimes, but Heerman’s Gull stands out with unique coloration and that striking orange bill. I haven’t seen a whole lot of these along the coast… in fact, this one is the first sighting I’ve confirmed myself – yay, a new bird for me!

Royal Tern

February 2013 – Cahuita, Costa Rica

This tern was resting with a few of his brothers and sisters in the relatively calm waters of the Cahuita bay.

Ring-billed Gull

July 2012 – Chicago, Illinois

This Ring-billed Gull is rather sickly looking… it’s a city bird, and was perched on a railing on the Lake Michigan shorefront. It’s not the best example of its species, but it’s honest all the same.