Great Black-Backed Gull Bird – Aerialists – 11/29/2015

The adult Great Black-Backed Gull was photographed at McKinley Marina in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The 3rd winter juvenile Great Black-Backed Gull was photographed at Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Select this link to see photos of the Great Black-Backed Gull

The Greater Black-Backed Gull has black back and wings, and white underparts with pink legs and is the largest gull Young gulls have contrast brown, paler on the head, tail, and under parts.. This 3rd winter immature Gull still has a black tip on the beak. It is larger than a Herring Gull and the smaller Lesser Black-Backed Gull. It has a range of mainly northern North Atlantic United States. It has a habitat of mainly coastal waters, estuaries: a few on large lakes. The diet includes carrion, fish, mollusks, crustaceans, marine worms, insects, rodents, berries, and the adults young and eggs of other birds. It is primarily a bird of the Atlantic coast and seldom seen inland except on the Great Lakes.

 

 

Brown Pelican Bird – Aerialists – 8/7/2014

The Brown Pelican was photographed at Murrells Inlet saltwater marsh walk waterfront in South Carolina

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Brown Pelican

Select this link to see panorama photos of Murrells Inlet saltwater marsh walk

The Brown Pelican is a large gray-brown bird with white and brown about the head and neck, a gray pouch and legs. It has a range along the coasts of the United States. It has a habitat on salt bays, beaches, marshes, and ocean coasts and perches on posts and boats. Their diet is mostly fish and crustaceans. They fly close to the water and plunge bill first to get their food.

 

Muscovy Duck Bird – Swimmers – 11/27/2013

These Muscovy Ducks were photographed in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Muscovy Duck

The Muscovy Duck is a large domesticated duck that is predominantly black and white with pink or red wattles around the bill. They have claws on their feet and a flat tail. It is native to Mexico, Central and South America. The true wild Muscovy Duck is blackish with white wing patches. They have a habitat of urban and suburban lakes, and on farms, nesting in trees or on the ground under shrubs.  In the US it is an invasive species, an owner may raise them for food production only. They feed on roots, stems, leaves, and seeds of aquatic plants. They also eat small fish, crustaceans, and insects.

 

Royal Tern Bird – Aerialists – 11/28/2013

The Royal Tern was photographed on Myrtle Beach in South Carolina

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Royal Tern

The Royal Tern is a medium sized seabird with a large orange bill, a deeply forked tail, a gray back, white under primaries, and a black or white forehead with black feathers forming a crest. The Royal Tern is one of the larger terns. It has a range strictly on the United States east, southeast, and Gulf, and northwest Mexico coasts. The habitats are coasts, sandy beaches, and salt bays. It is almost never seen inland. It feeds on small fish and crustaceans.

 

Lesser Black Backed Gull Bird – Aerialists – 11/30/2013

This younger Lesser Black-Backed Gull was photographed on Myrtle Beach in South Carolina

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Lesser Black-Backed Gull

The Lesser Black-Backed Gull has black back and snow-white underparts with pink (younger) and yellow (older) legs. The range is Northern Europe, but may be found migrating in North America. It has a habitat at beaches, bays, coasts, and garbage dumps. The diet includes fish, insects, mollusks, crustaceans, marine worms, and refuge in dumps. It has not been proven to nest in the United States. North American records are of the Britain/Iceland population that is indicated by a lighter black back. When seen they are few in number, and usually only for a short time.