Let me know when that tide's coming in won't you

Let me know when that tide's coming in won't you

Monday 9 February 2015

Look Who's Laughing Now

I wasn't supposed to be birding at all the weekend just gone. I had my daughter, and if there's one thing she detests, it's standing out in the cold looking at birds for hours on end. But this was different. A Laughing Gull was still showing well on the Wirral, at New Brighton, and with the possibility of some Purple Sandpipers too, I had to get the bribery tools out sharpish. This gull is native to North America, and so is hopelessly off course, and only an hour away from my doorstep. With the promise of a hot chocolate from Starbucks, plus a marshmallow on a stick and that I'd need no more than 15 minutes, we were off and out the door.
We (I) found it almost immediately on the pontoons as promised. A smashing looking bird, in its juvenile winter plumage, almost black legs and bill. A real treat for both Eleanor and I. Well, me. The hot chocolate was appreciated though.

On the pontoon with Turnstones, Redshanks and Purple Sandpiper.







28 comments:

  1. Great sighting! Bribery works every time. :-)

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  2. Neat sighting of the Laughing Common, they are common gulls around here.. I love first shot with the Turnstones.. Great post, enjoy your week!

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  3. Glad you were able to find the gull easily and that your daughter responds to food bribes. :))

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  4. Great photos of the birds and well worth the little bit of "bribery" to be able to see and photograph them.

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  5. Stunning shots. Great character - particularly in the flying photos. Look forward to seeing more of your work. Saying hello via wordless wednesday (on a tuesday) http://detoutcoeurlimousin.blogspot.fr/2015/02/snow-trees-flowers-few-cows.html

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  6. Looks like the twitchers have been bribing the Laughing Gull too Adam.Nice work, the skilful bribery and the pictures.

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  7. I'm glad you caught a glimpse of a laughing gull. Your patience - and your daughter's forbearance - was rewarded1
    Thhans for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/02/tijuana-sunrise-bottoms-up.html

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  8. Lovely photos. I too have to bribe my 9 year old to accompany me for photography, when hubby dear is not around and I can't leave him home alone.

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  9. Gorgeous shots! Definitely worth a little bribery.

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  10. You got some great flight shots. I had to bribe my mum to take me!

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  11. Awe, bless it, so far from it's own. I hope the it does well, so young, but maybe very soon can get back to others of it's own kind. In the meantime, you got some marvelous shares. I like Starbuck's hot chocolate too, good one Adam~

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  12. wonderful gull shots. maybe you'll turn your daughter into a birder, yet. :)

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  13. Perfect shots of the bird in flight.

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  14. Fantastic photos and hot chocolate seems to be a great bribe :)!

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  15. cool, a teacher on a schoolyard :)

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  16. Well worth the bribe, to get those great shots.

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  17. You got some fabulous shots! Love the in-flights. Hot chocolate and marshmallows will turn my granddaughter into a birdwatcher any time!

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  18. Well that works for both you adn your daughter. Fantastic shots especially the flight ones

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  19. What a beautiful pictures of these seagulls.
    Best regards, Irma

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  20. Wonderful pictures..All it took was a little hot chocolate???

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  21. What a pretty bird. Brilliant shots, I think they deserved a cookie as well as a hot chocolate :-)

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  22. Definitely worth the bribe! The first time we saw (or more to the point, heard) laughing gulls I could not believe what they sounded like. They were on the Texas gulf coast. You got great pictures.

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  23. Your bribery yielded you great photos! Oh, she'll remember these times with you fondly someday whether she realizes it or not! :-)

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  24. "....and if there's one thing she detests, it's standing out in the cold looking at birds for hours on end" - You do surprise me..... how thoroughly unreasonable of her.... Only kidding.

    But you did well to bag these excellent photos. I love the action "in-flight" shots. Amazing.

    This is such a well written, amusing, and informative post. I thank you for that.

    Have a great weekend.

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  25. Superb shots, some of the best I've seen of this bird.

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  26. Great to see the purple sandpiper with many simultaneously. The flight images of the gulls are beautifully made. Class!

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