Montauk Seagulls

Seagulls are a generally an under-appreciated bird. Growing up along the coastline of New England, seagulls were an integral part of the environment in which I lived. They floated above the beaches on warm summer days, darted past one another during the spring mating season, and dropped clams and other shellfish on the concrete parking lots to extract the food within.

Seagulls are part of the Larus family and are most closely related to terns. The word larus is reportedly derived from a Greek word meaning gluttonous bird, a reputation these fowls do nothing to dispel. Most of us know seagulls to be opportunistic scavengers, birds that will be equally satisfied eating fish and crabs as they are eating your french fries or turkey sandwich. 

Peter and I recently spent the weekend at Gurney's Inn out in Montauk. Off-season rates allowed us to get a room, with a balcony, overlooking the ocean. Facing south, the views were spectacular, as were the sunrises and sunsets. We spent most of our time either on the beach or on the balcony - always with camera in hand. The first morning we were there, Peter took part of his breakfast bagel outside to enjoy it with his coffee sitting in the sun. Well that apparently was an open invitation to all seagulls, near and far, to "come and get it". These birds that appear so docile and curious perched on a banister can become quite aggressive when free food is around. They will swoop in and take food right out of your hand and will fight off any others who might want to partake of a free picnic.  

So here are the many "faces" of the Montauk Seagulls.

   

Photos © 2012 Claudia Ward
Music: Fuga a cavallo by Ennio Morricone from the original soundtrack of
"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" 

 Note: If you've never seen this 1966 spaghetti western starring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, and Lee Van Cleef, and featuring this stylized music as a fourth leading character, seek it out ... it's a classic. 

Comments

[Ally]

Really pretty seagull shots

[Sally]

Love this! Was Peter able to enjoy his bagel or were the seagulls the happy recipients of it all? My favorite capture of the seagull is in the video. It is the one with wings spread and looking up. Fantastic!! as all are!