Friday, January 20, 2012

Hawaiian Gull?


Hawaiian Gull
no color added...
Rosy Gull? Pink Gull? Henry named this a "Hawaiian Gull"... You wish Henry!
I call it a Sunset Gull... just a photo of a Iceland Gull with the refected glow of the sunset.

this is what I found when I googled Hawaiian Gull...
Q. Why aren't there any Gulls in Hawai'i ?

A. There are no indigenous or endemic gull species that nest in the Hawaiian Islands, although recent fossil evidence suggests that a gull species may have inhabited the Islands once. The position of the Islands means that there is very little "edge" to the island landmass, with the narrow strip of coastal reef and rock quickly falling away into the deep ocean and ocean trenches. Gulls are generally continental species which inhabit the shallow waters along the edges of the continental shelf of mainland areas, and as such their food preferences are reflected in the areas they usually inhabit. It is very difficult for gulls in Hawai'i to find the right type of foods to satisfy their dietary requirements. However, several gull species do visit the Islands each year, mainly during the winter months and mainly in juvenile plumages, although a gull might be observed at any time of the year. The most frequently occurring species are Ring-billed Gull (above) and Laughing Gull, but Franklin's Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Herring Gull and Glaucous-winged Gull are also recorded in small numbers annually. Most gulls that arrive in Hawai'i take up residence at coastal ponds, lagoons, streams and beaches and may remain for several weeks or even months, however, due to the lack of suitable food individuals often end up emaciated and will starve to death. A large proportion of the gulls that arrive in Hawai'i never make it back to the mainland. Franklin's Gulls, which usually arrive in the spring, are almost always adults in summer plumage and appear to be just passing through and seldom stay for long at one site, and perhaps this is one species that does actually complete it's rather "off-course" migration. A full list of gull species that have been recorded from the Hawaiian Islands can be found in the State List.

from: http://www.birdinghawaii.co.uk/faqs2.htm
 



Being blessed with so many great sunsets lately I was again at the South Lighthouse taking photos....

But to my suprise it was even better when I got home... after sunset, before dark.
The view as seen from my garden.
Stunning!

 other birds around....
The Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow) & a Robin are still here...

Oystercatcher! first of the year... maybe more appropriately named Wormcatcher?

2 comments:

  1. Really good example of how the Oystercatcher uses his beak to get food.

    The picture of the first gull reminds me of the colour of the plumage on a flamigo.

    Fantastic sunsets again. You should be marketing them in a calendar or using them as a desktop screensaver. Actually I wonder if a 12-month calendar or some such thing with some of the sunsets, birds and Island sights would work for either online or as tourist souvenirs? LOL, just that they are so pretty.

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  2. Una lectura verdaderamente cautivadora y educativa: gracias por su dedicación a producir contenido excelente. Libera a tu campeón interior en velocidad de clic y domina la tabla de clasificación del Contador De Clicks.

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