Fishing Seagull style?

[Roger Bailey]

 

[Roger Bailey]

It was interesting watching this young Sea Gull this morning. his style of fishing was a cross between Herons and Terns. He would swim to follow the fish around and then lift himself up with his wings, just enough to plunge his beak and head underneath the water to catch the fish below. He was very Productive.

 

[AlanLichty]

Cool sequence and a great catch with the fishing technique in action in the first image.

 

[JimFox]

How cool Roger! The first one actually gives the appearance that the seagull is balancing on its beak in the water.

 

[KevinA]

Very nicely caught. Just for information, there is no such thing as a seagull. I think this is a western gull, Larus occidentalis

 

[Roger Bailey]

Very nicely caught. Just for information, there is no such thing as a seagull. I think this is a western gull, Larus occidentalis

Yes, you are correct in your assessment of my Id, however on this side of the pond many of us call all gulls seagulls when we are not trying to correctly Identify them by name. This was a juvenile gull and difficult to Id as I think he had several markers for the Western, California, Ring-billed or even Glaucous gull. It is also possible he is a hybrid. I found out from another birder that this is a technique that they use most of the time when there are other birds stirring up the baitfish. I think the prey was so shallow in the water he was just practicing. and did great while I was watching. Thanks for the correction!