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Black-tailed Gull – feeding behaviour

on 10th August 2019

“Black-tailed Gulls (Larus crassirostris) were common at the Nemuro Peninsula and we have a number of opportunities to watch them.

“I saw a pair feeding for an extended period in a less common manner. They would float on the shallow sea near the coast until the spot a prey, having put the head under water to be sure. They would then push up with the wings to gain a little height and plunge down deeper to gain access to the prey on the shallow sea bed. In this case a crustacean (crab) (above). They would then fly off to a nearby rocky site to feed.

“I saw this method a number of times at one location and I suspect it only works in shallow waters with slower moving prey. Feeding by immersion is a recognised method (see HBW 2019).

“One episode is captured in the GIF shown below as video.”

“A composite image of some sequences below.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
8th June 2019

Location: Nemuro Peninsula, East Hokkaido, Japan

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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