Hilton Head Island Gulls GAlore

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Genesis 1:20 Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.”

Ring billed Gull, Larus delawarensis, profile portrait showing ringed bill and feathers on face. Hilton Head Island Beach, South Carolina USA in winter.

Since my trips to the coast are infrequent, I'm not too well versed in my gull identification. When I first stepped out on the beach and scanned the shore, I thought, like most people would, that there were just a bunch of "seagulls" standing around. But like walking into a dark room from the bright outdoors, my eyes slowly began to adjust and these "bunches of seagulls" began to differentiate! 

Once your "eyes adjust", you begin to notice the relatives sizes of the birds compared to each other. Then even the finer details tell the species apart: leg color, beak shape and size. ​

Laughing Gull, Bonapartes Gull and Forsters Tern standing on the beach in front of ocean waves on Hilton Head Island Beach, South Carolina USA in December.

One gull on December 23 stood out from all the others, for it was huge. In comparison to the small Bonaparte's Gulls, this thing looked like a giant turkey. It was big and bold in its attitude too. I walked within 15 feet of it and it just stood there, staring at me, almost daring me to try something. It was a Great Black-backed Gull! 

Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus, is the largest seagull. Juvenile plumage. Standing on the sand on the Atlantic ocean beach on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA in winter, December 2019.

Large Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus, is the largest seagull. Juvenile plumage. Standing on the sand on the Atlantic ocean beach on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA in winter, December 2019.

Bonaparte`s gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia, standing on the island beach at low tide in winter. It is one of the smallest species of gull. Hilton Head Island Beach, South Carolina USA.

The Ring-billed gulls were plenteous and cooperative photo subjects. But even among this one species there was huge variety of color and plumage.  ​

Ring billed Gull, Larus delawarensis, standing on the Atlantic ocean beach on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA in winter, December 2019.

Ring billed Gull, Larus delawarensis, standing on the sand beach reflection on blue water. Hilton Head Island Beach, South Carolina USA in winter.

Ring billed Gull, Larus delawarensis, standing on the sand beach reflection on blue water. Hilton Head Island Beach, South Carolina USA in winter.

Ring billed Gull, Larus delawarensis, flying over the Atlantic ocean beach on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA in winter, December 2019.

Bonaparte's Gull, preening on the sand on the Atlantic ocean beach on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA in winter, December 2019.

Bonaparte's Gull, preening on the sand on the Atlantic ocean beach on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA in winter, December 2019.

Ring billed Gull, Larus delawarensis, resting sitting on the sand in the cold wind on the Atlantic ocean beach on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA in winter, December 2019.