A few weeks back, I was birding by myself since Bud wanted to stay home, away from the heat of the day. I found myself at Packery Channel Park on Padre Island, under the gazebo platforms watching the orioles, the hummingbirds, the sparrows, a couple of painted buntings, and a few more migrants. While there, an older man came and joined me and we got to talking. I had heard of this phenomenon before, but never witnessed it. He told me that he just left a beach park where, literally, hundreds of Franklin's Gulls were in their pink breeding plumage. Yes, pink. And, since I've never seen this before, and the morning sun would be just right for photographing the gulls, I headed to the park. There were, just as he said, literally hundreds of Franklin Gulls!! Some all dressed in the finery...the pink breeding plumage!! These particular gulls are not residents of Texas...only migrating through to the north to Canada for the summer...south to South America in the winter. The pink you see is not the sunlight, their feathers are actually pink during breeding from what is called Astaxanthin; it's responsible for the pink plumage
FRANKLIN'S GULL [breeding colors]
photos taken: J P Luby Beach - North Padre Island [Corpus Christi, Texas]
habitat range: Franklin's Gull
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those gulls looks very pretty in their pink dress :) Glad you went there to see them :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome shots of the gulls, Anni! I always have a tough time id-ing the gulls. The Bonaparte, Franklin and the Laughing Gulls all look the same to me.. Thank you for hosting. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeletePS, thank you for linking up and sharing your post with my critter party. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteWow, a big thank you to that man! also they don't have black eyes, they have white eyes! I love that about them. A black mask and white eye makeup.
ReplyDeletethat's very cool! had no idea!
ReplyDeleteA breeding blush. Go figure!
ReplyDeleteThey're lovely looking gulls.
ReplyDeleteThose are really cute gulls. I like the black heads with the white circles around the eyes, it gives them such a sweet expression, like a perpetual wink. The rosy chests are pretty too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful gulls!
ReplyDeleteHow pretty- very cool!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of them! And I didn't know some birds turn pink during mating season. Fascinating!
ReplyDeleteHi Anni. Lovely shots. How cool to see so many in their breeding finery.
ReplyDeleteI am not that familiar with this gull species as they are only rare vagrant visitors to the UK but Ross's and Little Gulls in their adult summer plumage also share the same pink flush.
Wow - that's very cool, and I did not know that. I've seen a few of those gulls here recently over at the lake, but they weren't pink. Great shots, Anni!!
ReplyDeleteFlushed with excitement...or blushing with embarrassment? Either way, that's very cool!
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures. The first time I saw that pink on a Gull,I was sure it was reflection of something else. It does look interesting.
ReplyDeleteFantastic images of this lovely gull
ReplyDeleteFantastic and these are impressive images of the gulls Anni. I learned something new today, about these gulls turning pink during breeding season. Thanks for adding to my knowledge which is what I truly love about blogging. Happy Sunday to you :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos of these beautiful birds !!
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday !
Great close ups! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI like watching them step through the surf. Wish I was there!
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Anni, fellow helping birders are the best. Glad you followed their directions and photographed these gulls. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHow cool! I've never seen that before!
ReplyDeletewell....their secret is out, i had no idea!! love sea gulls, still, even tho i got pooped on yesterday. they saw it's good luck!!! thanks for hosting, i almost forgot to link in!!!!!
ReplyDeleteReally cool shots! I did not know about the pink breeding color. It's like they're blushing. Hope to link up next week with some birds. My post today is flowers and only flowers. :) Good to see you out and about still birding!
ReplyDeleteWell, this post brought an entirely new meaning to the expression, 'in the pink'!
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely birds!
ReplyDeleteWell THAT is very interesting. Haven't ever seen anyone post about their pink! Cool!
ReplyDeleteOhhhhhh .... what special !!! I ehb never seen a pink birds in breeding plumage. Really great that you could get it on the photo. I've looked in amazement at your beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, helma
Great shots illustrating the breeding phenomenon.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!
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