Gulls plankton-feeding begins, LBBG
2/29 Stratford, Lordship Seawall & Long Beach
I popped out briefly 10:30 to view LI Sound before the rain/winter storm began.
I discovered several hundred gulls sitting on the water, plankton-feeding, just
off the Lordship Seawall at Marnick's Restaurant. Among them was an adult
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. I called a couple local birders. The wind blew the
gull flock (& plankton?) west towards Long Beach.
I was joined at Long Beach by Charlie Barnard, where I estimated 1000 gulls (60%
Ring-billed, 40% Herring), including the LBBG and 1 Bonaparte's. By 11:30 the
flock had dispersed somewhat, as well as was blown much farther offshore towards
Bridgeport. Then the rain began.
Frank Mantlik
Stratford
From Frank Mantlik, with Charlie Barnard
2/29 Stratford, Long Beach - Adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 1 Bonaparte's Gull
with 1000 gulls (60%/40% Ringbilled: Herring) plankton-feeding. Also numbers of
Brant, Black Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, and Long-tailed Ducks.
Re the gull feeding behavior...
I have seen this behavior in the CT River in Essex in both the Spring and the Fall.
I have posted about this before here but still the question seems unanswered "What are they feeding on?" Dennis says Barnacle larvae, Frank says plankton, someone else fish but how do we know these things?
I'm curious has anyone ever dragged a plankton trawl through these gull flocks and ID-ed the food source or are the previous comments educated guesses?
Any references anyone could supply would be appreciated
. Is it possible Blue Crab larvae are involved?
I ask because it seems to me Plankton blooms are something different from synchronomous larval hatches and it would be interesting to know if it's one or the other or both of these events.
Bill Yule.
"For those who hunger after the earthly excrescences called mushrooms."
--- On Wed, 2/29/12, Frank Mantlik mantlik@sbcglobal.net wrote:
From: Frank Mantlik mantlik@sbcglobal.net
Subject: [CT Birds] Gulls plankton-feeding begins, LBBG
To: "Birds CT" ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Date: Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 1:29 PM
2/29 Stratford, Lordship Seawall & Long Beach
I popped out briefly 10:30 to view LI Sound before the rain/winter storm began.
I discovered several hundred gulls sitting on the water, plankton-feeding, just
off the Lordship Seawall at Marnick's Restaurant. Among them was an adult
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. I called a couple local birders. The wind blew the
gull flock (& plankton?) west towards Long Beach.
I was joined at Long Beach by Charlie Barnard, where I estimated 1000 gulls (60%
Ring-billed, 40% Herring), including the LBBG and 1 Bonaparte's. By 11:30 the
flock had dispersed somewhat, as well as was blown much farther offshore towards
Bridgeport. Then the rain began.
Frank Mantlik
Stratford
From Frank Mantlik, with Charlie Barnard
2/29 Stratford, Long Beach - Adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 1 Bonaparte's Gull
with 1000 gulls (60%/40% Ringbilled: Herring) plankton-feeding. Also numbers of
Brant, Black Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, and Long-tailed Ducks.
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