24-MAR-2012
Pomarine Jaeger among the gulls
We searched through the gulls hoping to find something unusual and were surprised to find another Pomarine Jaeger within the group of mixed Gulls.
24-MAR-2012
Pomarine Jaeger
He allowed us pretty close before taking off. Jaegers are often not too concerned about us once in the air and allow us to run along side at a close distance. We can sometimes get ahead of them and stop in there path. This allows for a good chance to get passing photos.
24-MAR-2012
Pomarine Jaeger resting near boat
Several times we made large circles around the boat and found different jaegers sitting on the water. This was the only shrimp boat we found with this large a gathering of gulls, and the only one with jaegers.
24-MAR-2012
Pomarine Jaeger
Fortunately, Pomarine Jaegers have considerable variation in plumage. Looking through the photographs, I was able to separate 6 different jaegers on the day.
24-MAR-2012
3 Pomarine Jaegers on the water
We often found the same jaegers back together again on the water several hundred yards from the boat. Thanks to the photographs, I realized we saw several of the jaegers many times over the hour we spent running around the shrimp boat.
24-MAR-2012
Three Pomarine Jaegers after a Laughing Gull
Three jagers were once seen teaming up on a Laughing Gull to successfully steal it's fish. Once stolen, there did not seem to be any fighting between the jaegers for the booty. The food item, barely visible, was dropped by the upper jaeger and caught by the jaeger below.
24-MAR-2012
Pomarine Jaeger
By comparing the wing molt in the photographs, I was able to be sure the dark Pomarine Jaeger we kept finding was the same bird.
24-MAR-2012
Pomarine Jaeger
Differences in head pattern, breast band, belly pattern and wing molt made it possible to separate some of the jaegers apart. Thank goodness for modern photography.
24-MAR-2012
Pomarine Jaeger
The last time we had luck like this with Pomarine Jaegers was March of 2010. It was a similar type day and involved shrimp boots working off Holly Beach. It also had numbers of jaegers sitting together on the water. These days are few and far between, but are lots of fun when they come along.