Black-headed gull

Description:

This gull is 38–44 cm (15–17 in) long with a 94–105 cm (37–41 in) wingspan. In flight, the white leading edge to the wing is a good field mark. The summer adult has a chocolate-brown head (not black, although does look black from a distance), pale grey body, black tips to the primary wing feathers, and red bill and legs. The hood is lost in winter, leaving just 2 dark spots. Immature birds have a mottled pattern of brown spots over most of the body. It breeds in colonies in large reed beds or marshes, or on islands in lakes, nesting on the ground. Like most gulls, it is highly gregarious in winter, both when feeding or in evening roosts. It is not a pelagic species and is rarely seen at sea far from coasts.

Habitat:

Seen at Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary.

Notes:

Every time I visit this and the gulls are here, people buy fried food to feed them. This time it was the same. They buy these foodstuffs for the birds because the sellers tell them that when you feed the birds, they will come near the boat and you will get good pics. Inspite of being declared a Ramsar site recently, these things continue. There are some groups which are active in Gujarat and are spreading the awareness and also informing the forest departments. Let us hope that these foodstuffs are banned in the Sanctuary very soon.