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San Francisco, California. Last updated: 9/28/2010.

The highlight of a fishing (and, of course, birding) trip on San Francisco Bay was an unexpected number of jaegers and their harassment of the abundant Elegant Terns. For anyone new to jaegers, this group of birds specializes in kleptoparasitism, stealing other seabirds' meals. I often tell people that jaegers are where gull meets hawk. Skuas would be where gull meets eagle. Photo by Bill Hubick.

Above and below: The highlight of a fishing (and, of course, birding) trip on San Francisco Bay was an unexpected number of jaegers and their harassment of the abundant Elegant Terns. For anyone new to jaegers, this group of birds specializes in kleptoparasitism, stealing other seabirds' meals. I often tell people that jaegers are where gull meets hawk. Skuas would be where gull meets eagle.

The highlight of a fishing (and, of course, birding) trip on San Francisco Bay was an unexpected number of jaegers and their harassment of the abundant Elegant Terns. For anyone new to jaegers, this group of birds specializes in kleptoparasitism, stealing other seabirds' meals. I often tell people that jaegers are where gull meets hawk. Skuas would be where gull meets eagle. Photo by Bill Hubick.

Above and below: Juvenile Parasitic Jaegers over San Francisco Bay, California (9/24/2010).

Juvenile Parasitic Jaegers over San Francisco Bay, California (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Juvenile Parasitic Jaegers over San Francisco Bay, California (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Juvenile Parasitic Jaegers over San Francisco Bay, California (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Juvenile Parasitic Jaegers over San Francisco Bay, California (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Juvenile Parasitic Jaegers over San Francisco Bay, California (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Juvenile Parasitic Jaegers over San Francisco Bay, California (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: Passing under the Golden Gate Bridge

Passing under the Golden Gate Bridge Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: Elegant Terns were abundant on San Francisco Bay and were the preferred target of jaegers (9/24/2010).

Elegant Terns were abundant on San Francisco Bay and were the preferred target of jaegers (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Elegant Terns were abundant on San Francisco Bay and were the preferred target of jaegers (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Elegant Terns were abundant on San Francisco Bay and were the preferred target of jaegers (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Elegant Terns were abundant on San Francisco Bay and were the preferred target of jaegers (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Elegant Terns were abundant on San Francisco Bay and were the preferred target of jaegers (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Elegant Terns were abundant on San Francisco Bay and were the preferred target of jaegers (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Elegant Terns were abundant on San Francisco Bay and were the preferred target of jaegers (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Elegant Terns were abundant on San Francisco Bay and were the preferred target of jaegers (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: More juvenile Parasitic Jaegers shaking down Elegant Terns for their lunch money. I usually don't cheer for the bully, but jaegers are just too damn cool. Also, those terns are fast.

More juvenile Parasitic Jaegers shaking down Elegant Terns for their lunch money. I usually don't cheer for the bully, but jaegers are just too damn cool. Also, those terns are <em>fast</em>. Photo by Bill Hubick.

More juvenile Parasitic Jaegers shaking down Elegant Terns for their lunch money. I usually don't cheer for the bully, but jaegers are just too damn cool. Also, those terns are <em>fast</em>. Photo by Bill Hubick.

More juvenile Parasitic Jaegers shaking down Elegant Terns for their lunch money. I usually don't cheer for the bully, but jaegers are just too damn cool. Also, those terns are <em>fast</em>. Photo by Bill Hubick.

More juvenile Parasitic Jaegers shaking down Elegant Terns for their lunch money. I usually don't cheer for the bully, but jaegers are just too damn cool. Also, those terns are <em>fast</em>. Photo by Bill Hubick.

More juvenile Parasitic Jaegers shaking down Elegant Terns for their lunch money. I usually don't cheer for the bully, but jaegers are just too damn cool. Also, those terns are <em>fast</em>. Photo by Bill Hubick.

More juvenile Parasitic Jaegers shaking down Elegant Terns for their lunch money. I usually don't cheer for the bully, but jaegers are just too damn cool. Also, those terns are <em>fast</em>. Photo by Bill Hubick.

More juvenile Parasitic Jaegers shaking down Elegant Terns for their lunch money. I usually don't cheer for the bully, but jaegers are just too damn cool. Also, those terns are <em>fast</em>. Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: Birding... I mean fishing... around Alcatraz

Birding... I mean fishing... around Alcatraz Photo by Bill Hubick.

Birding... I mean fishing... around Alcatraz Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: Heerman's Gulls around San Francisco Bay, California (9/23-24/2010).

Heerman's Gulls around San Francisco Bay, California (9/23-24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Heerman's Gulls around San Francisco Bay, California (9/23-24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Heerman's Gulls around San Francisco Bay, California (9/23-24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Heerman's Gulls around San Francisco Bay, California (9/23-24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Heerman's Gulls around San Francisco Bay, California (9/23-24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Heerman's Gulls around San Francisco Bay, California (9/23-24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Heerman's Gulls around San Francisco Bay, California (9/23-24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Heerman's Gulls around San Francisco Bay, California (9/23-24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: A Heerman's Gull with aberrant white patches. I couldn't help but wonder if this would benefit the individual by adding a jaeger-like flash of white to its wings. I watched one individual chasing a jaeger that was chasing an Elegant Tern. Could the extra flash of white increase its chances of kleptoparasitism success?

A Heerman's Gull with aberrant white patches. I couldn't help but wonder if this would benefit the individual by adding a jaeger-like flash of white to its wings. I watched one individual chasing a jaeger that was chasing an Elegant Tern. Could the extra flash of white increase its chances of kleptoparasitism success?  Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: A beautiful Townsend's Warbler along the Lands End Trail, San Francisco (9/23/2010).

A beautiful Townsend's Warbler along the Lands End Trail, San Francisco (9/23/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: Brandt's Cormorants roosting around San Francisco Bay, California (9/24/2010).

Brandt's Cormorants roosting around San Francisco Bay, California (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Brandt's Cormorants roosting around San Francisco Bay, California (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Brandt's Cormorants roosting around San Francisco Bay, California (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Brandt's Cormorants roosting around San Francisco Bay, California (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: A California Sea Lion roosting on San Francisco Bay (9/24/2010).

A California Sea Lion roosting on San Francisco Bay (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: A Brown Pelican in flight near Alcatraz (9/24/2010).

A Brown Pelican in flight near Alcatraz (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: An adult Black-crowned Night-Heron prowling around the bait cages near Fisherman's Wharf (9/24/2010).

An adult Black-crowned Night-Heron prowling around the bait cages near Fisherman's Wharf (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: A Common Murre near the Golden Gate Bridge, California (9/24/2010).

A Common Murre near the Golden Gate Bridge, California (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: San Francisco at dawn

San Francisco at dawn Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: A Red-shouldered Hawk - a juvenile of the coastal/California subspecies - at Lands End, California (9/23/2010).

A Red-shouldered Hawk - a juvenile of the coastal/California subspecies - at Lands End, California (9/23/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: A California Gull at Chrissy Field, San Francisco, California (9/25/2010).

A California Gull at Chrissy Field, San Francisco, California (9/25/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: Male and female Brewer's Blackbirds near Lands End, San Francisco, California (9/25/2010).

Male and female Brewer's Blackbirds near Lands End, San Francisco, California (9/25/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Male and female Brewer's Blackbirds near Lands End, San Francisco, California (9/25/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Male and female Brewer's Blackbirds near Lands End, San Francisco, California (9/25/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: Juvenile Brewer's Blackbird at Lake Merced, California (9/26/2010). Note the reddish brown iris.

Juvenile Brewer's Blackbird at Lake Merced, California (9/26/2010). Note the reddish brown iris. Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: A Clark's Grebe at Lake Merced, California (9/26/2010).

A Clark's Grebe at Lake Merced, California (9/26/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: Seal Rock and the Golden Gate Bridge

Seal Rock and the Golden Gate Bridge Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: Lands End near Seal Rock, California

Lands End near Seal Rock, California Photo by Bill Hubick.

Below: The sun sets over the Pacific off Land's End, San Francisco, California (9/24/2010).

The sun sets over the Pacific off Land's End, San Francisco, California (9/24/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick.

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