Asphalt Beaches
Gulls and Parking Lots
At this time of year, natural beaches frequented by gulls, become covered in deep snow, and are less accessible to various species of gull accustomed to loafing there. Parking lots in shopping plazas seem to have become substitutes for natural areas, and it is rare to visit the parking area of a large shopping plaza and not find gulls. No doubt the unrelieved flatness of the area is attractive and the fact that the asphalt retains heat probably also contributes to its appeal.
This lone American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus was the sole representative of its species, among the more numerous Ring-billed Gulls Larus delawarensis.
Many friendly humans stop by to deliver food and no doubt this contributes to the desirability of parking lots also.
ReplyDeleteFor closer examination it can be concluded that they are in the parking - with the first shot :))
Greets
You go well with pictures of David, because this series of seagulls are really nice down :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat set of images, David. Over here it's usually Pied Wagtails, Magpies, Rooks, or Crows that inhabit car parks - at any time of year! But then we don't get the snow and ice that you do (fingers crossed!), or the gulls (in these parts,anyway).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Richard. Today I am off to Niagara Falls where you really see gulls at this time of the year. I think the record still stands at thirteen species in one day.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots David!
ReplyDeleteI like the composition of the first one!
You may say what you like about the quality of pictures, it is so much more pleasant to look at this kind of quality! ;-)
Cheers, enjoy your WE!
Piękne mewy:) origamiiptaki.blogspot.com zapraszam:)
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