Herring Gull (1st winter)
Herring Gull / larus argentatus. Bridlington, East Yorkshire. 19/11/21.
'BEAK GROOVES.' (2)
A very confiding 1st winter Herring Gull photographed on a harbour jetty.
It follows on from my previous image and gives detail of the gull's beak structure. It shows the grooves down which a salt solution travels, (excreted from the nasal salt glands), in order to reach the tip of the beak. One short shallow groove runs from the widest end of the nostril. Another longer, deeper groove runs directly under the nostril, from about midway. When the solution reaches the beak tip it forms a large droplet and either drips off or is shaken off by the gull.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.
Herring Gull (1st winter)
Herring Gull / larus argentatus. Bridlington, East Yorkshire. 19/11/21.
'BEAK GROOVES.' (2)
A very confiding 1st winter Herring Gull photographed on a harbour jetty.
It follows on from my previous image and gives detail of the gull's beak structure. It shows the grooves down which a salt solution travels, (excreted from the nasal salt glands), in order to reach the tip of the beak. One short shallow groove runs from the widest end of the nostril. Another longer, deeper groove runs directly under the nostril, from about midway. When the solution reaches the beak tip it forms a large droplet and either drips off or is shaken off by the gull.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.