Over the past few days, Bonaparte's gulls have turned up on our arm of Sarasota Bay. Smaller than other gulls in this region, they are easy to spot as they circle overhead or rest on the surface.
Bonaparte's gulls nest in spruce bogs across Alaska and the western half of Canada; unlike other species, they nest in trees. Come autumn, most head for the coasts of North America though some turn up in the Great Lakes or along the major river valleys; the latter group may winter on freshwater lakes in the Southeastern U.S. Some of these hardy migrants are known to winter on the open ocean.
Wherever they go for the colder months, Bonaparte's gulls tend to remain mobile, roaming about in search of small fish and aquatic invertebrates. Based on past experience, I doubt they'll hang out here for more than a few more days.
