Bonaparte's Gulls

maybe it was timing but 97% of all the Bonaparte's I saw were adults and the 1cy birds included several that had a lot of juvenile feathers in the plumage so maybe they are later arrivals? 

Vancouver Island September 18

after being somewhat spoilt by the west coast weather on previous visits this year was more normal ie quite wet but arguably better light for gulls! waders were in good supply and wildfowl typically abundant with some excellent raptors but passerines were generally scarce and damp! first shots ff the block from the cottage garden 1cy and adult Mew / Short-billed Gull and Bonaparte's Gull the latter up to 1000 off the garden daily --

Bonaparte's Gulls

up to 500 off the spit at Campbell River on the turning tide -- low their calls

Bonaparte's Gulls

Campbell River day one

A poor fly by Double-crested Cormorant in the dullness -- whatever happened to British claims of this species? following the Cleveland bird they were reported every year or two then donkey's years with nothing? have people just given up on them?
huge flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls were feeding in the channel between Campbell and Quadra Island and resting on the sandbanks and shoreline where they were occasionally harrier by Peregrines causing mass panics -- the spit gatherings also held big flocks of California Gulls with Glaucous-winged, American Herring and odd Thayer's Gulls. --

Bonaparte's Gulls

all gulls are of course in heavy moult at this time so less than attractive!