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A Herring Gull with a small crab was on the rock weed when a Greater Black—backed Gull walked up behind him causing him to scurry off. At that moment, an immature Herring Gull swooped in from the side and drove his bill into the Greater Black- backed Gull who immediately departed. At this point, the first Gull returned to his crab.
On at least five occasions, large flocks of Great Blue Herons (20 to 30) flying in close proximity to each other, but not in a formation and aimlessly swooping and wheeling. These flights were not provoked by anything visible, but probably a Bald Eagle was in the vicinity, unnoticed by us.
Observed an American Crow eating something and, when a Herring Gull approached on foot, the crow gave way and flew off.
A, Ring—billed Gull sitting on 'the water would rise in a fluttering manner about 6 - 8 feet, fold its wings and dive completely under water; came up with something - crab or clam. Saw a Bald Eagle perched in a spruce above a cormorant colony. He harassed a Cormorant sitting on the water at the base of the cliff until it gave, disgorging its catch. The eagle promptly ate the material.
Two Osprey, just coasting over a spit of land, caused about 200 Ring-billed Gulls to take off at once. Then they milled about at an unusually high altitude for several minutes.
Our ’driveway’ has a continuous row of 30-foot spruce trees along one side. As We drove in one day looking only at the
driveway, all of a sudden, 10 Great Blue Herons took flight from the tops of the spruces right over the middle of the driveway; We had apparently alarmed them as all ten defecated at once. Who was more alarmed! It was like a wet snow storm.
A crow was attacking an Osprey who was standing on its nest. They took off in a spectacular ‘dog fight’. The Osprey was apparently the winner and promptly began to dive bomb a dozing Great Blue Heron, who was not bothering anybody.
I have seen a Mallard trying to swallow a frog, a Cormorant swallowing an eel, an Osprey trying to deal with an eel on the mud flats.
Grey Seals at the Pinette River mouth (5-10) swimming up stream, coming almost completely out of water, landing almost horizontally with a big splash — on two or three
days in early June. WHY? They were small seals perhaps
3-4 feet or, rather that much was showing.
Many Grey Seals going overland in winter, on the snow. One was found dead in Newfer’s woods, Pt. Prim, one was dead on the Roseberry Road in front of Gillis Lodge, Eldon, 5—7 got to Earl Gay’s house (Newton Cross) 3~4 miles from time frozen ocean, one or more were on the ice of Brian Fortune’s pond in Eldon center. The Islanders say it is not uncommon. But why? Some say it is because their breathing holes have closed or their access holes and that they are searching for open water.