A note to "non-birders" ... there is NO SUCH thing
as a "seagull" ... ("There ain't no animal," as
the old saying goes.) That is a poetic lay
term too often used, which has no
scientific meaning whatsoever.
They are simply gulls.

Bonaparte's Gull, first winter

Of course many gulls live inland, very far
from the sea. And in most of the ocean (the
sea), there are no gulls. They are littoral
(nearshore) often where the food is.

They are also common at dumps feeding on
human's refuse, and in fact some may have increased
in numbers as our trash piles up. Birders
often go to dumps to study gulls. Yes they're
a weird lot (birders, not gulls).

Mew Gull (brachyrynchus), first winter

At KMHRP many gulls come over from the harbor
daily to bathe and drink in freshwater,
though they have a gland which allows them
to desalinate saltwater, like most seabirds.

Ring-billed Gull, adult

Some 14 species of gulls have been found
at KMHRP, and surely others occurred
un-detected! Afternoons are best for them at
the park. The boat ramp on the west side
near the maintenence building is a good spot.
(The 2nd entrance (left) south of PCH on Vermont.)
We offer a selection of common types
here for you to peruse.

Herring Gull, 2nd winter

Note most gulls take 3-4 years to acquire
adult plumage. Most start out rather
mottled brown, and each year during molts
some of the brown feathers are replaced
with gray and white feathers of adults,
until finally they become the pretty
gray and white birds we all know.

A few are white with dark markings they lose
with age. Here we call out ages to help
show this. They are "juveniles" their first few
months of life. A "first winter" bird is in its
first winter and about 4-8 months old.
A second winter bird is about 16-20 months old.
And so on. Large gulls take 4 years to mature.

Western Gull, 2nd winter



Western Gull, 3rd winter



Western Gull, dark southern "wymani" adults
(4+ years old) left and right
Light (northern) bird not full adult yet



Glaucous-winged Gull, May



Immature Herring (left) and Western Gulls



Thayer's Gull, light 1st winter



California Gull, immature

TERNS are more pointed of wing and bill,
and trimmer and sleeker than gulls.
They do not scavange food like gulls do,
but make aerial dives into the water to
catch live prey, usually small fish.
Note their more pointed bills.

The endangered Least Tern used to nest
at the site. The last 3 decades it has
continued to bring its young here from
Terminal Island nest sites, to teach them
how to fish in the calm waters of the lake.

Adult Least Tern
Note: Yellow bill, forked tail (tail streamers),
gray upperparts with narrow black leading edge
to outerwing, white forehead, black crown and eyeline



Juvenile Least Tern
Note: Sandy brownish on back, crown, and wing coverts
Lots of black on outerwing; short squarish tail; dark bill; small size



Least Tern - 4 juveniles, 1 adult
resting on floating bird platform



A juvenile Least Tern resting on the dam
is one the annual thrills at KMHRP



Forster's Tern



Caspian Tern (with red bill)



Black Skimmer is a relative to gulls and terns.
During periods of locally high sea surface
temperatures, they have rarely strayed from their
prefered marine environment to KMHRP,
including in July and August '03.

DUCKS & GEESE				SHOREBIRDS & ASST. WATER BIRDS
HAWKS, FALCONS, etc.		HUMMINGBIRDS		LAND BIRDS 1
ASSORTED UNSORTED		HERONS, EGRETS, etc.		"BLACK" BIRDS

What is KMHRP?		Where is KMHRP?		Bird Photos, List, Where to
Butterflies		Historical Photos		Park Habitats
Essays About the Park		Dragonflies		Park Abuse
Wilmington Drain		Helping Harbor Park		Park Rules (Under Construction)

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All contents © Mitch Heindel 2005