Glaucous Gull Archives - Ferrara Wildlife Photography

Arctic Fox and Black-legged Kittiwake – The Misappropriated Meal

This is part two, a continuation from the previous story, Assault. The Misappropriated Meal From the towering cliffside area it was hunting, the Arctic Fox paused purposefully and gazed toward the sea. Hearing the raucous clamor developing from that direction, the canny canid bolted toward the sounds of death. Within seconds it reached the spot where the Glaucous Gull had just delivered its coup de grâce to the Black-legged Kittiwake. The gull, spying the approaching fox, quickly moved its dispatched victim back into the water in an attempt to foil the fox’s intentions. It was to no avail, though, for the fox continued its pursuit and entered the icy water. Losing its nerve, the gull flew off giving the swimming fox the misappropriated meal. ~ Anecdote and Arctic Fox and Black-legged Kittiwake capture, The Misappropriated Meal © Jerry L. Ferrara. Svalbard, Norway

Glaucous Gull and Black-legged Kittiwake

This is a two-part story, the first installment appearing today: Assault We were cruising in the zodiac when a large Glaucous Gull attacked a much smaller juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake overhead in midair. The action came without warning and was as fast as it was frenzied making photographic acquisition of the action, framing and tracking it challenging, especially from the moving boat. Mortally injured, the Kittiwake plummeted to the water’s surface where the Glaucous Gull followed in vicious pursuit seizing its prey and dragging it to shore. Once there, the predator continued its assault until the murder was consummated. What happened next was as stunning as what had just occurred. STAY TUNED for part two, The Misappropriated Meal. ~ Anecdote and Glaucous Gull and Black-legged Kittiwake capture, Assault © Jerry L. Ferrara, Svalbard, Norway