I ended up with lots of pictures of the glaucous gull on the texas city dike as it fed on a lamb that had been cleaned at the first fish cleaning station http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148843853 It then preened on one of the pilings http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148843852 And took a rest after all the work and eating http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148843851 While preening he showed off its wing feathers http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148843833 It was very alert and noisy. You can pick out its higher longer call from the other gulls http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148843829 And swims more than the other gulls http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148843820 Note the white eye ring on the bird. If you cannot see any of the other gull field marks the eye ring will identify the bird http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148843815 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148843771 Note that it uses its tongue a lot more when feeding than I have noted with other gulls http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148843806 And lots of calling when one of the young herring gulls came too close http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148843778 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148843777 A good mystery bird shot http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148843768 A picture of the cleaned fish shows that it is likely a dogfish or a goatfish based on the teeth http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148843765 Common goldeneyes were at the same spot http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148842350 Note that head shape changes easily http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148842348 When bathing the male can really raise the water http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148842343 With a truly big foot http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148842344 The two horned grebes were there too. Two horned grebes have fed in the spot on a regular basis for 3 winters now http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148842340 Very clean white belly http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148842336 And diving technique http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148842338 One common tern in the small flock http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148842330 Bonaparte's gulls were scattered along the bolivar beach. Several fed in a flowing cut a little east of the first Crystal Beach stop light coming from the ferry http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148841924 They would stop and wait or preen and then feed going up the current and then do it again http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148841931 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148841910 Other birds were sleeping on the edge of the water http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148841907 Or just stood around http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148841905 A red-tailed hawk at Anahuac either has a radio attached or picked up some fishing line http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/148841393 Lots more pictures of the gulls at http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/inbox -- Joseph C. Kennedy on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner
