Southern Black-backed Gull

Description:

Native to Aotearoa the Southern Black-backed Gulls, also known as Kelp Gulls, are intelligent, noisy, aggressive and opportunistic birds. They "have white head and underparts with black back, yellow bill with red spot near tip of lower mandible, and pale green legs." (https://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/sou... )

Habitat:

Flying over the water with its feed near the Harbour Mouth Molars.

Notes:

This Gull had found a feed and was trying to outfly the other Gulls that wanted in. Aside from the seaweed that can be seen there was also an octopus hanging from its bill. I only know this because I saw the Gull drop it down onto the rocks with another Gull in hot pursuit! There is a control program in place by the Department of Conservation (DOC) due to the high numbers of these birds. Some reading about this: https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-relea... And further reading about the control program: https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/ne... Further reading: https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/black-back...