Yesterday, some gulls returned to Arctic Bay, possibly even beating the Snow Buntings back. I’ve been anxiously awaiting the return of the Snow Buntings, listening and watching and hadn’t seen any yet, when Leah told me last night that there were Nauja (gulls) down on the sea ice.
So this afternoon Hilary and I took a drive, first off to the water lake and First Bridge to see if we could find any Snow Buntings. We had a great time in the sun at the lake,
but there was no bird song or sign of any life, so we moved on to the bridge. As we pulled up I could see a Snow Bunting flying, and after we sat for awhile, and listened to the singing we came up with a total of three males (the females arrive later after the males have staked out their territories). Unfortunately they wouldn’t co-operate for a photo.
We headed on back to town and near King George I noticed a couple of gulls out on the ice. I was so tickled I didn’t notice the other 34 Gulls closer to shore (and to me). This is the first bunch to arrive here and while, predictably most were Glaucous Gulls one was an Iceland Gull. I think there was only one Iceland Gull but they moved off before I took a really good look at the rest.
Here is a picture of the main group, see if you can pick out the Iceland Gull (although granted this isn’t the best photo for ID purposes).
How about now with the field narrowed down?
Or a closer crop?
Really the only diagnostic feature here is the size, but when its head wasn’t tucked under its wing, the beak and head proportions were visible. I also swore I heard a lone goose at lunch time while I was out on the deck having a coffee and soaking up the warm sun, but I couldn’t for the life of me see any geese anywhere, and I think it’s a touch too early. But you never know.
Comments
2 responses
I’ve been hearing Snow Buntings for a few weeks now and catch glimpses of them flitting here and there, but photographing them has proven impossible (at least I can’t seem to do it). If you are able to get some shots of those sweet little birds, I will be thrilled to see them and a little jealous! 🙂 Their song is truly the sound of spring for me.
I heard geese for the first time this morning. So, I guess, in spite of our persistently winter-like weather, the season has truly arrived after all.
I’ll post a picture of a Snow Bunting as soon as I have one. There are a couple of pictures of young ones on my deck in the “Birds” archives. Soon there will be a plethora of bird activity up here, but I so enjoy the return of the Snow Buntings.