There was a drop-off in the sand from where this Ring-billed Gull was perched to the ocean.
He and a few pals were getting some end of day sun.
Typical of gulls, they were flapping around a bit while the waves were roiling around behind them.
I don’t remember if this is the same bird as the first picture, but it was nice he supplied me with another head profile shot.
St. Augustine Beach, FL
January 20, 2023
After sunrise didn’t make much of a show I walked the beach and this group of gulls was gathered at the tide line ahead of me.
Gulls At the BeachI suspected they would all fly as I wasn’t the only person on the beach, and some were jogging and others had dogs.
Skimmer With Gulls At the BeachThe gulls actually didn’t fly and the Black Skimmer made him self comfy in the crowd.
Skimmer With Gulls At the BeachI got one pretty good look at the Skimmer as he stepped away from the group working on their morning grooming. I glanced away for a second and when I turned back he was gone.
Skimmer At the BeachSt. Augustine Beach, FL
January 21, 2023
I spotted this Ring-billed Gull just before he hit the water.
There wasn’t much of a splash and the gull’s wings never went under the surface.
One powerful beat of his wings and he was up.
A small splash and he was away.
Wasting no time, he sped off before one of the other circling gulls or terns noticed his catch.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
December 25, 2021
A little dance after bath time.
And a bow.
The White Ibis was wading in the canal just off the dike at the rice field impoundment. I waited patiently for him to get far enough from the bank to get a clear shot.
Then an intruder! Several Ring-billed Gulls were on the opposite bank in the shallow water. I didn’t expect any to be interested in the deeper water, not thinking they would float, not wade.
The Gull continued paddling until he was behind the White Ibis and lifted his head, turning a photobombed shot into a nice bird combo image.
I didn’t see the shrimp arrive or which gull had it first.
The gull on the right was in hot and noisy pursuit when the possessor of the moment took to the air.
Unfortunately the shrimp broke apart.
Or not, if you are gull number two diving in for the recovery of what looked like the bigger piece.
