[CT Birds] Great Black-backed Gull & Red-breastedMerganserConfrontation - also Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

[Kathy Van Der Aue]

It is amazing but I guess the gull was hungry and the duck vulnerable for 
some reason.  Not pretty...

Kathy Van Der Aue, Southport, CT
kvda at optonline.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard L. Becker" <rlbecker at SongStar.org>
To: <ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 12:12 PM
Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Great Black-backed Gull & 
Red-breastedMerganserConfrontation - also Yellow-bellied Sapsucker


> Kathy,
>
> Those were "little greenish puffballs" are easy for a Greater
> Black-backed Gull to swallow. The merganser we saw was a full-grown
> adult.
>
> Richard/CT
>
> On Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:42:08 -0500, Kathy Van Der Aue wrote:
>
> :The greater black backs are deadly with the little eider ducklings in
> Maine.
> :It's a horrible sight to see the little greenish puffballs plucked out
> from
> :under the watchful eyes of the mothers and aunties...
> :
> :Kathy Van Der Aue, Southport, CT
> :kvda at optonline.net
> :----- Original Message ----- 
> :From: <p.s.holden at comcast.net>
> :To: <ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org>
> :Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 4:45 PM
> :Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Great Black-backed Gull & Red-breasted
> :MerganserConfrontation - also Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
> :
> :
> :> Really?  I didn't know the Great Black-Backed Gull would prey on
> ducks.  I
> :> just learned something new!
> :>
> :> Thanks,
> :> Pam
> :>
> :>
> :> ----- Original Message ----- 
> :> From: "Richard L. Becker" <rlbecker at SongStar.org>
> :> To: <ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org>
> :> Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 1:51 PM
> :> Subject: [CT Birds] Great Black-backed Gull & Red-breasted Merganser
> :> Confrontation - also Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
> :>
> :>
> :>> At Shippan Point in Stamford this morning, we watched a Great
> :>> Black-backed Gull attacking a male Red-breasted Merganser. It was a
> :>> little too far to see clearly, but at various times it looked as
> though
> :>> the gull was holding by a wing, a leg, and possibly its neck. The
> :>> merganser was struggling, flailing its wings and legs. After about
> :>> fifteen minutes, the merganser ceased its struggle as the gull
> turned
> :>> the merganser belly up.
> :>>
> :>> Also, saw a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Cummings Beach Park in
> Stamford
> :>> this morning.
> :>>
> :>> Joan and Richard Becker
> :>>
> :>>                              Richard L. Becker
> :>>                      Fairfield County, Connecticut
> :>>          www.songstar.org      rlbecker at songstar.org
> :>>
> :>>
> :>>
> :>> _______________________________________________
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> :
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> for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
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