Dear Readers:
I was up in Virginia this weekend and made a trip to the Walmart in Rocky Mount. I was surprised to see a flock of sea gulls basking in the sun in the parking lot, since Rocky Mount is roughly 200miles from the coast.
Well, color me somewhat ignorant. I’ve discovered there are more than 50 species of gulls worldwide, with many found hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean. Some actually live primarily inland, including the ring billed gull, which thrives in suburban settings around the United States.
Gulls are opportunistic omnivores and will eat all sorts of things: insects, earthworms, rodents, grains and even French fries and other fast food. Mall parking lots offer the chance of a handout and Dumpsters filled with scraps Gulls also prefer open areas where they can spot predators and take off easily, which this group did as soon as I got any closer for another picture.
Along with this picture, I also picked up a head cold and now feel like a blivet, which is an old family term for 10 lbs of crap in a 5 lb paper bag.
Snufflingly yours…
I often see gulls in parking lots here in south Jersey.
Thanks for stopping by! I saw a lot of them in Salt Lake City but figured they’d been fooled by the great Salt Lake!
We’re near Philadelphia–so rivers and marshy areas. I guess they like that, too. 🙂
Hope you feel better soon!
Thank you! Sleeping a lot seems to help!
Hmm well didn’t want to like this post, but acknowledge it. So sorry about your head cold!
Meds make it bearable! Thanks for ‘liking’ this anyway!
Any large body of water (river or lake) will draw gulls. We have gulls in Iowa, for Pete’s sake. I’ve seen them here all of my life.
I don’t recall seeing them in Illinois, but other than there, I’ve always lived on a coast somewhere!
Seagulls go wherever they feel like! They can hang out in fresh water for awhile too. I have seen them in inland states many times.
I’d never really paid attention to them, probably. I don’t recall seeing them in Illinois, and otherwise have always lived on or near a coast. With so many different species, I suppose it’s pretty likely they are everywhere.
Hope you feel better soon, Noelle. 🙁
Thanks, Sue. Pharmaceuticals are made for this!
So is a nice hot toddy 🙂
I’ve never had a hot toddy!
I don’t quite know why… but they definitely help 🙂
A quart of Haig & Haig, a bucket of ice, and a rocks glass are much more effective.
Must say it sounds more my style 🙂
I’ve been hitting the double-oaked Whitford bourbon, very smooth and makes you forgot the snot.
The gulls at the great British seaside are very brazen indeed – they will swoop down and take food right out of your hand!
The ones on the coast here in NC are also brazen hussies. You don’t dare feed them, or big numbers swoop in, in attack mode!
The buggers! But then, I know how they feel. Food is very important 🙂
I hope you’re back on top form soon Noelle.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
Careful hugs back to you – can’t give you this cold! Pharmaceuticals definitely help!
Feel better! Hugs…
Thanks, Bette!
My gran used to chase them with a broom and tell them to ***** emigrate. he added beeps for my sensitive ears. When my brother chased them going beep beep beep back home, many miles inland from my gran’s my mother was horrified. ‘Where did you learn that?’ ‘At gran’s. She wants them to egrimate.’
Great story! You should post this!
We had them in Vermont on Lake Champlain too. I always figured they just followed the food. Hope you feel better soon, Noelle. “Blivet” is a new word for me – the definition made me laugh, but it sure doesn’t sound like fun 🙁
I’m improving, Diana, thanks. Blivet is a real word that my family sort of usurped. Funny, we have lots of strange words, such as “cheese dreams” for toasted cheese sandwiches.
We have seagulls in Pennsylvania parking lots. As a Jersey Shore girl, I was shocked to see them so far inland!
From what I’ve learned, they probably live there! I like that they remind me of the ocean – nirvana for me!
I never knew that about te gulls either… I thought they were seabirds. Hope you’re feeling better soon, Noelle. I too have been plagued with colds since the new year.
Just back from Germany – can’t imagine how many bugs I’ve been exposed to! ARG!
Oh no! None, I hope!
Time will tell – I’ll give it about 10 days!
Good luck!