Seagull Spring

Published on by J. Kelland Perry

Seagulls squeal a spring duet
Swim in pairs around ice and rock
Glide as swans in graceful tandem
Hush broken by caw and squawk.

Two by two with white forms glinting
All-consumed to multiply
Nests to feather whatever the weather
Tasks that cover sea and sky.

Sun sets, wind drops, fog rolls in
From the east without a sound
Just the squeal and cry of seagulls
Nature’s twilight songs abound.


I took these photos in April 2015. This year the sea ice left early, but we still have our mating seagulls on the rocks. I love to see them pair off with each other every spring.

32 thoughts on “Seagull Spring”

  1. Seagulls get a bum rap (particularly on the eastern seaboard shore). They are scavengers, for sure. Some humans call them flying rats. But you know what? I love watching them soar, pick up a clam, fly high and then drop it so it opens and they swing down fast to eat up the clam before some’one’ else does. Their delighted squawks above me at the beach make me laugh. Your poem and photos do them justice.

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  2. Exquisite photos and poem, Jennifer! 😀 I love the serenity in both and how wonderful that they ‘Glide as swans in graceful tandem’! I’m lucky enough to see many seagulls on the coast here in Sweden at the moment … rather boisterous by comparison though! 😀

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  12. That must be really nice to see, Jennifer! The seagulls here are so “urbanized.” They are a different breed and will swoop down to grab your pizza if you don’t watch out. (True story from our vacation archives 😉) I’m glad their northern cousins have such grace.

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    1. I see the urbanized gulls from time to time when we go to town, usually hanging around fast food restaurants. Some of their parking lots have signs that say “Please don’t feed the gulls, they can be aggressive toward children.”
      The gulls here have plenty to eat around the coastlines, so they are very much more like other seabirds. 🙂

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