Image of Great black-backed gull

Description:

The gulls were flying over Lake Champlain. Two of the sightings included the gulls swimming. They were not swimming in a particular direction and often changed course. On take-off, the gull started flight facing into the north wind. The flying gulls would hover, barely advancing forward but flapping their wings constantly. Other flight pattern included 3 or 4 long, slow wing flaps and then gliding, with their wings bent in a V-like shape.