5/10/09, Headed to a potential shorebird site in Duluth and was pleasantly welcomed by the toy like sound of the Bonapartes Gull. I usually hear this species before I see it, there call is unmistakable. During spring migration I typically get one or two opportunities to observe this species at close range if they stage at these mudflats and I actually thought I had missed out this year, so I was very excited that I had not. I approached the gulls, approximately 120 birds, as slowly as I could and luckily they let me get very close. Of course I had to crawl on my stomach in the mud, but cmon, these are Bonapartes gulls in breeding plumage, worth some getting dirty in my opinion :) These gulls are very enjoyable to watch, such a social tight knit group. I was having quite the time until some young boys somewhere back on shore decided it might be fun to hit golf balls at myself and the gulls. One ball finally landed quite close to myself and half the Bonapartes immediately took flight. Luckily this satisfied the boys who were easily heard congratulating whoever hit the final shot. The silver lining to that disturbing part of the story was that I then got to watch the gulls that flew gain extreme elevation and circle above us, literally dots in the sky. Then came the exciting part, one at a time the gulls decided to drop, and I mean drop, out of the sky to take their respective places back on the mudflat. I'd seen them maneuver like this before, it's astonishing. The Bonapartes literally cut the sky and wind with such speed and sharp banking maneuvers that you can hear the birds descend. If you've never seen or heard it, it's quite a site. I could not help but feel sorry for the few ringbilled gulls out there that tried to show off some of their flight skills, pitiful in comparison. Anyway, I'll post a few pictures in the showcase section of MOU over the next few days from this wonderful evening. There were a few yellowlegs out there, but no other shorebirds. The yellowlegs busted out there song (not call but song) a few times, what a goosebump inducing experience that was. Regards, and enjoy the migration. Shawn Zierman. **************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222585010x1201462743/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=May Excfooter51109NO62)
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