The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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September 23, 2018
Salish Sea
Yet another reason to haul around a camera! Didn’t twig to it at the time but looking at photos last night, I realized the oh yeah more (but always beautiful and welcome) Mew gulls I thought I’d been watching yesterday were actually Bonaparte’s! Unusual sighting for me.
This may fall into the category of Huh? for a lot of people, or Who cares? But I’m throwing it out there for our late Bucket today cuz it’s phenology, and they are pretty, also too.
Mew gulls are a favorite for me, delicate, energetic and with a sweet plaintive call. But they return from breeding in July so I didn’t think I was seeing anything momentous when I watched a big flock swooping and dipping over the surface of the bay yesterday late afternoon.
Cool surprise to see they were actually Bonaparte’s, equally small and delicate, almost tern-like. They also breed to the north but return later than Mews. Similar surface-dipping mode of feeding. Bit more of a chirpy call, which I interpreted to be hoarse Mews at the time ;-)
Whilst the few at this end of the bay appeared to be jumping on top of a little seal also fishing here, it seems they were going for the baitfish the seal was stirring up.
A few were floating. This one shows the black cheek patch distinctive to Bonaparte’s:
...and this one in flight has markings of a youngster, the black tail margin and shoulder line. Most of these at this end of the bay were youngsters. Can’t tell about the 30 or so others diving on baitballs at the other end.
Sunny today in the Pacific Northwest. Perhaps my corn will ripen some more; it has slowed WAY down. Nights are coming earlier now.
I’m heading back out to see if the Bonaparte’s are still around. The bucket is now open...
What’s up in nature in your area today?
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