I saw something related on the salt-flats at the edge of Mono Lake in
California. A juvenile Western Gull was standing in a cloud "Brine Fly's"
(IIRC) eating flies as fast as he could work his beak.

Now, you have to understand that that cloud of flies was about a foot deep,
2-6 feet wide, and several hundred yards long. The flies were hovering at
the edge of the lake in such thick bunches that occasionally one of the
gulls would appear to disappear in a puff of "black smoke". The gulls were
standing in that cloud apparently randomly opening and shutting their beaks
as quickly as they could while sweeping their heads back and forth. With
about a dozen gulls only a few meters from us, it sounded like a group of
kids practicing with drumsticks on a desk top.

Dusty Bleher - southwest of Lake Stevens, Wa.


_____

From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of jeff gibson
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 17:56
To: tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Flycatching Gulls


Stopped off briefly at the Everett Sewage Ponds this evening just before
sunset. Many Bonaparte's Gulls about, as is typical this time of year. After
watching them awhile I noticed one with strikingly different plumage - which
I immeadiately thought to be something different, like a Little Gull , but
after seeing more than one realized that they were probably immature Bonies,
which turned out to be the case after I got home and looked at Sibley. They
are quite beautiful - as are their parents. I really had'nt looked at them
closely before.

It was still quite warm (for late October) and the Bonaparte's were
flycatching over the ponds - wonderful to watch as they circled around, and
then suddenly move their head to snag a bug. It reminded me of the first
time I noticed gulls flycatching many years ago in Bellingham. I was walking
along the railroad tracks on the Fairhaven waterfront on a calm fall evening
when I kept hearing a clicking sound. It sounded like an insect noise so I
kept looking to the ground. But I just could'nt find the source of the
sound. Finally I looked up - just as a Mew Gull nabbed a flying termite with
an audible 'SNAP' of it's bill. It was quite a hatch of termites and many
Mew Gull's were snapping up the insects as they flew over the lagoon. Snap,
snap.

Aside from flycatching gulls it was mostly the usual suspects at the sewage
ponds - lots of Ruddy Ducks and Coots, some shoveling Shovelers , a few
Gadwalls and Mallards. Also a few Buffleheads way out there - the first I've
seen this fall.



Jeff Gibson , Everett WA