Millions of Mews
(Larus canus)
Donna A. Dewhurst, US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Well, millions is a gross exaggeration, but a gorgeous late February day presented me with an incredible viewing opportunity of a very large number of gulls which had congregated near Camano Country Club’s Beach #1 along Port Susan’s waters.
Binocular viewing them from a bit of a distance, it was determined they were Mew Gulls -- hundreds and hundreds of them there by the shore.
A Eurasian gull, they are now rather common along Puget Sound and Pacific Coast beaches during the fall, winter, and spring, and at times summer months, ranging from south-eastern Alaska to southern California and on down to Baja. But often in the summer they are absent, having departed for more northerly colonial breeding ground residencies in Alaska and along the coast into British Columbia and inland Canada -- watery sites.
Mews are a medium gull species (with a body length of 15-16 inches), having black wingtips with white spots. In addition, helpful field guides used in identifying them are their small thin yellow bills and also yellowish legs. Their common name, some have felt, is derived from one of their calls: "mee-you"; but another plausible theory is that it is derived from the Old English word “mew”, meaning “a gull”.
As I watched the many beach visitors, it seemed obvious the tide was perfect that particular day for either active food searching or simply a time-out – a rest.
They could have been seeking marine animals—worms, crustaceans, mollusks and such, but outward from the shore, as several other interested observers pointed out, small herring and other diminutive fish could also have been targeted for eats, although they’ll rarely go below water after them. Partial to rocky beaches, Mew Gulls also like the sandy bars, spits, and islands of our part of the world.
Camano waterfront resident, birder, and Beach Watcher, Bob Poulin, reports that prominent lecturer, Daniel Penttila of Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife* feels Island County’s eastside Camano Island beaches are unique in that herring lay eggs on beach rocks instead of on the more usual eelgrass. It’s one of the few places where this occurs in Puget Sound country. (Always knew we were unique!) Bob also reported that the Mews seem to determine within hours just when the egg food source is available and move in and went on to say that in the late summer, termite hatchlings fly from logs along nearby beaches and head skyward. He has watched from his home as hundreds of Mew Gulls have taken to the air –some 30-50 feet up - dining on the insects while aloft.
But back to the beach gathering, if not eating, the gulls could have, as has been mentioned, simply been resting, for it is not uncommon for onlookers to see hundreds of them hunkered down in relaxation mode. Should the wind be blowing, their bills would be to the gale—just resting--and, yes, restoring their energies for their next beach search for provisions.
Mew gulls--just one of winter's delightful beach sightings.
Below is a photo taken of herring eggs deposited on a beach rock - Year 2004.
Photo by Bob Poulin, 2004
Written by Pat Nash
Class ‘94
With contributions by Bob Poulin, Class ‘06
Daniel Penttila, WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife, has presented many interesting talks to Is. Co. Beach Watchers.
More Info
References: “National Geographic” Field Guide to the Birds of North America
ISBN 0-7922-6877-6 and Seabirds, an identification Guide by Peter Harrison, (1983),
ISBN 0-7470-1410-8.
Gull picture from Wikipedia article on Mew Gulls Public Domain. Taken by Donna A. Dewhurst, US Fish and Wildlife Service.