Gulls and Falcons - Xmas Day 2011

Brace Cove in Gloucester, MA had a Black-headed Gull (1st winter) and several Iceland Gulls feeding along the shoreline. Here's the Black-headed Gull below.

The Black-headed Gull in the center with 3, 1st winter Iceland Gulls to its left and above, a Bonaparte's Gull on its right and a Ring-billed Gull leading the way in the lower right.

A near adult Iceland Gull.

The United Methodist Church on N. Main St. in Ipswich had a pair of Peregrine Falcons roosting on its steeple mid-morning. A swing by on the way home around 8pm found one of the Falcons spending the night.

Hawks, Cranes & Kingbirds

Great birds were the order of the day on this fifty degree 5th of December. The Cassin's Kingbird is still putting on a great show along the northern edge of the Cherry Hill Reservoir in West Newbury.

While along Rte 1A in Rowley a pair of Sandhill Cranes are entertaining the masses with their habit of feeding quite close to the road.

They came close enough to allow for head shots at one point.

Hey... who are you looking at!

The pair performed several dances in the short time I was there. These help to keep a firm pair bond between these beautiful Cranes that mate for life. 

A Merlin was perched close by. This shot was taken as it watched a Red-tailed Hawk fly by quite close.

Salisbury Beach State Reservation was fairly quiet when I visited around noon today but this Northern Harrier made up for the lack of bird life.