I was at Hammonasset this morning and noted the first evidence I've seen of gulls starting to form groups feeding on plankton by picking it from the surface. Along the rip off Meigs Point a hundred or so Ring-billed Gulls eventually strung out and were joined by about 10 Bonaparte's Gulls. As many of you have observed over the years, this is the beginning of what becomes an early spring gull extravaganza on Long Island Sound, with feeding groups numbering in 4 digits a regular occurrence, 5-digit frenzies sometimes estimated and occasional recourse to guesses of 6-digits spread out over very wide areas. At their height these feeding groups sometimes attract large numbers of waterfowl as well.
Needless to say this affords the opportunity to scour for rare species. There has been interesting discussion in the past about the types of plankton involved and perhaps a few intrepid waterpersons will collect some samples again this spring.
Greg Hanisek
Waterbury
I was at Hammonasset this morning and noted the first evidence I've seen of gulls starting to form groups feeding on plankton by picking it from the surface. Along the rip off Meigs Point a hundred or so Ring-billed Gulls eventually strung out and were joined by about 10 Bonaparte's Gulls. As many of you have observed over the years, this is the beginning of what becomes an early spring gull extravaganza on Long Island Sound, with feeding groups numbering in 4 digits a regular occurrence, 5-digit frenzies sometimes estimated and occasional recourse to guesses of 6-digits spread out over very wide areas. At their height these feeding groups sometimes attract large numbers of waterfowl as well.
Needless to say this affords the opportunity to scour for rare species. There has been interesting discussion in the past about the types of plankton involved and perhaps a few intrepid waterpersons will collect some samples again this spring.
Greg Hanisek
Waterbury
