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Pamela Leavey's avatar

This is such a great read James. I learned so much about gulls and really enjoyed the gull photos and the woodpecker photos. I was out at the Refuge today. Not a lot of birds, but a great walk at Hellcat and I brought a friend who had never been there. She loved it. Always good to have someone to bird with.

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James Freitas's avatar

Thank you Pamela. Walking, even without birds, is a lovely thing to share, especially at the Refuge. And the weather has been unexpectedly amenable for the time of year!

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Neil Barker's avatar

Very interesting photo essay, James. I had never heard of the Lava Gull before. I find that interesting about them that they are territorial as well. I've been fortunate to see the Bonaparte's Gull a few times the past few year. Another nice gull to see. I do have to admit though, as many Ring-billed Gulls as I see daily, I do enjoy watching them glide and dip and dive while flying. Thanks for sharing.

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James Freitas's avatar

Thank you, Neil. They are interesting gulls, all gulls really—Lava, Bonaparte’s, Ring-billed etc. The Ring-billed is a special gull in that it is readily accessible, abundant, but also seems delicate and refined. Herring, to me, often seem big and boisterous. The RIng-billed seems not so imposing, though still omnipresent.

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Jesse C. McEntee's avatar

Thank you, James. I learned a lot from this post.

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James Freitas's avatar

Glad it was educational, Jesse! Thank you for reading.

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Amaranta Chavez's avatar

So interesting to learn about the Lava gull, such an awesome name and looks really elegant. Great pictures of the woodpeckers too 👏🏼 I have yet to get a good shot of woodpeckers in the UK, they're always so nifty!

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James Freitas's avatar

Thank you, Amaranta! I am unfamiliar with woodpeckers of the UK, there must be beautiful and fascinating species. I hope you get a great shot of one soon to share. Birds overall can be nifty and evasive enough to stump even highly skilled photographers like yourself!

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Perry J. Greenbaum 🇨🇦 🦜's avatar

I do not know what the future holds for us humans on Home Earth, but It is all but certain that our avian dinosaur companions will be flying around as long as the Earth is spinning around the Sun.

Can we learn from the birds? I am certain that we can. For one, there are times to be in and surrounded by community, and then there are times to go it alone, with only your family to take care of and love.

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James Freitas's avatar

Thank you Perry. I think of the Jeffers poem where he writes “man will be blotted out.” We will be, but let’s hope we don’t make it so inhospitable on this planet for the birds and all the lessons they offer.

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Teyani Whitman's avatar

I look forward to the day when I can be up and walking again. For now, I gladly experience birding thru the lens of lovely photographers like you. I too have one of those invisible illnesses. And I’ve been told so many times, “but you look good” it is ridiculous.

My current fav duck will soon arrive back on our lake, the widgeon. It stays sometimes until late March.

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James Freitas's avatar

I hope you are up and walking again, soon Teyani, so you can see more of the birds that bring you joy—like your favorite duck. The wigeon is underrated! I’m a pintail guy, but am always excited to see a wigeon. I am happy that my photographs bring you joy.

Thank you for reading and for your comment. If you ever need somebody to talk to about health hurdles, I am here to listen. Having had my share of health stuff, I know how frustrating it is, especially when people think you’re fine because you “look fine.” It is not that simple.

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Teyani Whitman's avatar

Thank you for this James. Such a kind offer 💕

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𝒞𝒶𝓉 𝒫ℯ𝓇𝓈ℴ𝓃's avatar

the oracular wisdom of spotify shuffle rarely misses

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Nathaniel Bowler's avatar

I told myself a few years ago I would use my 50s to really learn gulls. I just turned 49. It's looming! I also love Bonaparte's. Never knew they sometimes nest in trees. Awesome bit of knowledge!

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James Freitas's avatar

Thank you for reading, Nathaniel. Having your 50s be a decade of gulls is a fantastic idea! Gulls Simplified, by Pete Dunne and Kevin Karlson, is an invaluable resource and doesn't sugarcoat that they can be challenging:

"Ask any bird-watcher to name the bird group that is most intimidating, and to a man, woman, and tour leader they often shout: 'GULLS!'"

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Nathaniel Bowler's avatar

Thanks for the recommendation! It feels timely too bc Harrison’s seabird guide is getting a reboot

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Timber Fox's avatar

A lovely read with great photos. I love woodpeckers—I'll be sharing some photos tomorrow of our local Red-Bellied pair—and I saw my first Ladder-backed a few weeks ago in Palm Springs. I don't appreciate gulls as much as I should, but I'm learning, and this helped me along.

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James Freitas's avatar

Thank you Thomas!c I look forward to your Red-bellied photos. The Ladder-backed is an arresting bird, but then again I'm biased and think all woodpeckers are. A joy of gulls is there is never a shortage of stuff to learn about them--even when you feel you know them well.

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Wonderful article on so many levels, James. I’ve been to the Galapagos, but didn’t see the Lava Gulls, although the wildlife and birds are so phenomenal in general. You would love it there. It’s wild and expansive. The archipelago is so spread out that many species are able to thrive on a variety of islands. Your photo series of woodpeckers is amazing. I’m still hoping to see a Pileated. And thank you for helping to raise awareness for invisible disabilities as we can all learn to have more compassion.

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James Freitas's avatar

The Galapagos is definitely on my list—hopefully in the nearer future than I think! You will see a Pileated soon, if you’re already pointing out Green Herons to neighbors. Invisible disabilities are important to think about, and it’s not fair to assume that those with invisible disabilities will be forthcoming about them. It’s often not comfortable or easy. End of the day, everybody should be allowed to look for birds via accessibility.

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Shital Morjaria (she/her)'s avatar

Such lovely photographs can make anyone’s day!

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James Freitas's avatar

Thank you so much, Shital!

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Emma Liles's avatar

I will say that you have increased my appreciation for gulls in general, before this article too! Out of any bird, gulls are the ones that (in the past) I would be most prone to kind of roll my eyes “oh just a gull” type thing. But growing up next to a massive lake in WI (Lake Geneva) I became used to seeing large flocks of gulls fly around together in the winter, picking things to eat out of the farm fields. This is where my gull appreciation started - sometimes their flocks will be just massive…hundreds or more, all white against the clear blue sky.

This was a treat to read.

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James Freitas's avatar

If I’ve increased your appreciation for gulls in general, that’s a massive success in my book. Gulls are societally maligned, (your “oh just a gull” thought it still better than “oh just a ‘SEAgull’”) and most don’t feel compelled to look past the concept that they’re “rats with wings” or pests. But as you point out, they offer such beauty for onlookers to appreciate—and being gulls, you often don’t have to go far for it, it might be in a grocery store parking lot. Thank you, Emma.

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Victoria Bolduc's avatar

Explosions In The Sky = always a good choice.

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James Freitas's avatar

Rarely a miss! Thank you Victoria

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Wei Tam's avatar

That baby lava gull with the little wing and big feet is adorable. Thank you for the informative post!

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James Freitas's avatar

Thank you! It is indeed such a cute photo of that chick.

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Sandra Blair's avatar

What a great post James! And wonderful photos as usual. That Lava Gull is a pretty one, alas never to be on my life list.

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James Freitas's avatar

Thank you so much Sandra! The Lava Gull won’t get on my list anytime soon either, but never say never.

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Trey Roque's avatar

Woah! This was way too long with mixed topics.

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Trey Roque's avatar

Just my ironic take on a bird’s habits. But I keep forgetting irony doesn’t work in zeroes and ones.

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Trey Roque's avatar

Hit wrong button and it published.

Anyway, the gull part was great. Lava gulls are NIMBYS. Laughing gulls over serious.

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James Freitas's avatar

Thanks Trey, I've never heard of a bird being a NIMBY before, does this mean you don't want Lava Gulls around? I usually hover around 1,500 words--sometimes shorter, sometimes much longer. This is admittedly more than one essay in one. Gulls, birding stories via songs, recommended reading. I tried to separate it all with images/dividers but it was still more sprawling than usual. I'll keep your feedback in mind going forward.

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