Bonaparte’s Gull

Bonaparte’s Gulls are a small gull that is a common winter visitor in my area. But I have never seen them up close. They don’t hang out on land and they have been well out from shore whenever I spotted them. They are only about half the size of the Herring Gulls that are common on beaches, in parking lots, near dumpsters, on piers, etc. This makes it even harder to see them at a distance. Their petite appearance and typical “bobbing cork” way of sitting on the water makes them more attractive than the usual gull. So it was a real treat earlier in the week when I found a flock of 30-50 of them right off a boat ramp at a wide creek near the mouth of the Merrimack River. The light was good and they were very active. No more commentary. On to the photos!