Gulls vs. eagle at Patuxent
GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Mon, 4 Jan 99 17:07:51 EST
Since it was a cold day, we decided to do some low-impact birding (also to
recover from the 7 miles we walked yesterday, wearing Wellies), and went over
to Patuxent WRC Visitor's Ctr again. When we got there at 11 am, ca. 1500 gulls
were on the ice. Among them was a new species for us there, 25 Bonaparte's
Gulls, looking very small and dainty next to the Herring and Black-backs.
We soon picked out two first-winter Glaucous gulls and a second-winter Iceland
(with the characteristic dark-tipped pale bill), and were just enjoying them
when an adult Bald Eagle flew in, scattering all. He landed on the ice and
ate some small tit-bit, then flew to a nearby tree. It took a long time for
a few gulls to filter back. At one time a Glaucous was there with about 75
Ringbills and Herrings. Then the eagle made another pass, all the gulls
flew away. Finally perhaps 50 gulls dared to return to bathe, among them
a first winter Iceland (all-dark bill, dark eye). The eagle came by again,
and when we left, a cloud of gulls floated above the frozen lake with the
eagle occupying center stage.
One of the Center volunteers said that the resident eagles regularly take
gulls, including once an immature Greater Black-backed (would have liked to
have seen that!), as well as ducks, and seem to prefer feathered prey to fish.
Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
gail@umdd.umd.edu