Piping plovers fight! Laughing gulls dance! Common terns irritate!

Laughing Gulls, Long Beach, Plymouth, MA

Every year my annual walk to the tip of Long Beach gets earlier and earlier. This year I got there before the chicks arrived, meaning there were fewer birds aiming for my head, and more birds targeting each other.
Common terns and

laughing gulls were all paired up and ready for love.

While these three male piping plovers were not getting along!

The video is especially good this time. It starts with the piping plovers, a little past their active conflict but still in intimidation mode. Then an extended, surprisingly beautiful nuptial dance from a pair of laughing gulls. And then common terns, one of whom just won't shut up.