![](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20240407-Z8A_5564-1024x682.jpg)
ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull
With a typhoon approaching, I took a look at Nijigahama Beach in Hikari City. When strong winds are expected, such as before a typhoon, surfers come from outside the prefecture. On this day, there seemed to be many surfers from Hiroshima, but the waves did not seem to be much of a challenge.
The estuary at the edge of the sandy beach is sandbar-like and has few people, and I like the atmosphere, but unfortunately the bird detection rate is not so high. However, Black-tailed Gulls are common.
Before I knew it, it had been registered on Google Maps.
On this day, numerous gulls were gathered on the sandbar, so I decided to observe them.
(More photos because this is an ecological observation.)
I approached them while hiding on the beach, which had been washed by waves and sunk into the sand. Because of the tailwind, I was in a perfect position for the birds to fly off in the direction I was.
Most of the Gulls were resting on the beach, but some looked quite excited and jumped into the sea or chased each other.
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0315-3.jpg)
On the right is a leaf, and on the left…a pebble?
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0214.jpg)
This one jumped in again and again, struggling to catch up with a pebble or a piece of wood.
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0239.jpg)
Like twigs. They don’t care what the subject is anymore.
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0276.jpg)
They also began to compete with each other.
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0312-3.jpg)
And then, when I got to this point, I realized that all the fussing were juvenile birds. The bird in the lower part of this photo is an adult, but it may be still young.
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0313-3.jpg)
They are picking up something in their mouths here and there. I guess they are practicing hunting while playing.
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0324.jpg)
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0332.jpg)
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0375.jpg)
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0523.jpg)
A juvenile bird joins the adults, proudly showing off its fallen leaves.
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0543.jpg)
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0548.jpg)
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0580.jpg)
Adults who are not interested at all.
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0533.jpg)
The waves were pushing the flock forward, so they were getting much closer to me.
![](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0693.jpg)
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0723.jpg)
Perhaps because the distance is closing in, some of them are starting to fly away.
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0757.jpg)
One of the birds said something…
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0767.jpg)
It is shouted from the side.
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0768.jpg)
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0799.jpg)
The front face had not yet been taken.
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0836.jpg)
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0880.jpg)
Poo before taking off.
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220918-DSC_0895.jpg)
Perhaps the unusual environment of the approaching typhoon allowed me to see some interesting behavior up close?
It was an enjoyable observation.
![ウミネコ / Black-tailed Gull](https://xs993577.xsrv.jp/test/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/umineko64.gif)