I’m still considering a third attempt at photographing the Little Gulls at Monikie. Despite leaving home in perfect sun on my last two visits, the weather turned 'Pete Tong' as soon as I reached the park. Both sessions were ultimately washed out by flat, grey light...
Key Facts About the Smallest Gull:
Appearance: Breeding adults have a distinctive black hood, dark red bill, and very dark grey underwings, while non-breeding adults have a black cap and spot on the ear.
Habitat: They primarily breed in marshy wetlands in Eurasia (northern Scandinavia, Baltic Sea) and are rare but increasing in North America.
Range & Behavior: They are highly migratory and often found in coastal waters during winter.
Identification: Their size is key, and their dark underwings are a notable field marker, often separating them from the slightly larger Bonaparte's Gull.
While the Little Gull holds the title, other small gull species include the Bonaparte’s Gull and Ross’s Gull, though the Little Gull is consistently cited as the smallest.
Little Gull, immature birds have white underwings
Despite a rather dull day with strong wind, they seem unhindered when feeding and fly into the wind
Little Gulls pluck insects from the surface of the water and are very agile, sometimes appearing to walk on water
Adults have black underwings
Great Crested Grebe with a stickleback
Stock Dove, usually a shy bird but this one with another were happily feeding on the footpath near to where the ducks are fed, and while a school running event was taking place
Lesser black-backed Gull, paired with the one below
When seen directly this one was even a bit paler than in this photo, I can't recall seeing such a pale gull at this time of year
Adult Little Gull with some moulting around its head yet to complete
A 1st winter Little Gull, very distinctive upperwings
