FW: Gull stomping

["" <>]

By vibrating the saturated sand, it will suddenly slump & give up a considerable proportion of the intergrain water. 

(Earthquakes can do the same thing on a larger scale causing
foundations to subside, & the phenomena is very useful for
preventing vehicle bogging in sandy creek fords.)

Presumably tiny biota will be flushed out with this water & this may be what the silver gulls are after.
Regards, Chris Charles
 

On Tue Jan 26 20:53 , Syd Curtis <> sent:

<>
> Greetings, Birding-aus
>
>
> I quote from an email I have just received:
>
>
> -------------
>
>     "(We) are particularly fond of a cafe beside the Swan River
>
> in East Fremantle. We usually can get a spot in the shade overlooking
>
> the river during the morning.  The afternoon is a different matter as
>
> that spot faces West. We don't do afternoons.
>
>
>    "On several occasions I have observed a lone Silver Gull just wet side of
>
> the waters edge of a sandy beach stomping its feet alternatively in a
>
> kind of dance.  The action obviously turns the sand to liquid and, as it
>
> descends leg depth into the water/sand, it plucks at morsels released
>
> from the sand. Then it moves along a bit and repeats the process.
>
>
>     "It is not just a single bird to know this behaviour as I have seen two
>
> of them doing the same dance at the same time, though separated along
>
> the beach by perhaps 75 metres. Mostly though, others seem content to
>
> saunter along the beach or swim in the deep looking for tidbits.
>
>
>    "Meanwhile the Terns dive for fish, which they bring ashore to split open
>
> before swallowing.  All very entertaining."
>
> ------------
>
>
> Can anyone tell me what the "stampong" gulls are likely to be getting?
>
>
> Cheers
>
>
> Syd
>
>
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