Winter and Sea gulls

Ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) close up

Ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) landing in the huddle

Ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) close up 2

Ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) in flight

Ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) at rest 2

Ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) with first winter molt

Ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) in flight

Ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) coming in for a landing

Ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) at rest

Visiting Rehoboth Beach to see the beach with some snow ended up having less snow but a flock of seagulls (not the band) resting on the beach. Perusing my favorite bird id site lead me to believe that these were ringed-bill gulls on our beach. Gulls are a common site at many beaches, very agile fliers, sometimes too agile as they snatch food out of beach-goers’ hands. This should serve as a reminder that we shouldn’t allow animals to become accustomed to human food, which means throwing out your scraps and not feeding them. Regardless of the fact that the beach may be a resort area and not designated a park or wilderness, what may seem cute and entertaining can quickly become a nightmare. These habits can put people and animals at risk. So enjoy nature, but respect it by ‘taking only pictures and leaving only footprints’ as the Leave no Trace philosophy as well as other ethics go. This too means to use appropriate waste disposal which municipalities have set up and should be regularly maintained. Enjoy!

 

Year in Nature Photography – Day 119

Dragonflies and another new butterfly species today. Also most likely a Laughing Gull in flight. The butterfly is an interesting one, it is most likely a red-spotted purple which is actually a different form of the white admiral butterfly. They were originally thought to be two different species but now are considered different morphologies of the same one and will “hybridize” creating intermediate forms where the two forms overlap. I put hybridize in quotes because typical hybridization is the mixing of two distinct species, although that leads to a discussion on the definition of a species which I will save for a later post as it is quite complicated. Interestingly enough the red-spotted purlpe is a mimic of the Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) which is poisonous and is distinguished in part by the “swallow tail” on the hind wing. I also have a picture of one in my very early posting of butterfly and moth pictures.

I do love Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) but I also love Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) and I got to snap a couple of pictures while out at Assawoman Wildlife Area part near Fenwick Island, Delaware. Thanks to a site featuring Odonata of Delmarva (Peninsula containing the state of Delaware and parts of Maryland and Virginia) I was able to give a more educated guess as to the dragonfly species I photographed. In general like the difference between moths and butterflies, most damselflies hold their wings along their bodies when at rest and most dragonflies hold their wings spread out at rest. Dragonfly adults and their nymphs (young) which are aquatic, are great insect predators important for eating mosquitoes and their larvae.

I will be away for a week in Tucson, Arizona. I’ll continue taking pictures but it may be awhile before I post them. It’ll be an excellent opportunity to see nature in a completely different ecosystem.

Dragonfly (order Odonata) possibly Seaside Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenice) female

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral 
(Limenitis arthemis)

Dragonfly (order Odonata) possibly Seaside Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenice) female

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral 
(Limenitis arthemis)

Most likely a Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla)

Looks like a Needham’s Skimmer (Libellula needhami)

Birds

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Birds are wonderful creatures, unfortunately my avian (Latin for bird {avis}) identification skills are lacking. If I include a ? or sp? (species unknown) it means I’m not entirely sure of the exact ID.

You want to be careful when photographing nesting birds as you don’t want to scare them away from a potential nesting site, or a site where they have already lain eggs. My photo with the bird nesting in river cane was taken while doing my river cane research, for which I had to sample around the bird so as to not cause it to leave its nest. Beyond that, photographing birds as with all wildlife takes some patience and some good luck.

Laughing Gull, ? (Leucophaeus atricilla)

Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis)

Hooded Warbler, female (Wilsonia citrina) Nesting in River Cane

Rock Dove (Columba livia) Photographed in Italy

Heron sp? Photographed in Italy

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

Black-throated Blue Warbler, female (Setophaga caerulescens)

Indigo Bunting, male (Passerina cyanea)

Humming Bird sp? Photographed in Los Angels, CA

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)