Tuesday, 29 July 2014

Summer Gulling.

I've always found it hard to love gulls. Initially because they seemed to be a pest when I was young. Always trying to steal your food on the beach, or waking you up early with a raucous call outside the window. Then, as a birder, finding it difficult to distinguish certain types due to the many different plumage the same species can have.
On lovely sunny days though I can't stop pointing the camera at them. They make it a little easier for you by sitting on the water. Then when you think you know which gull it is, doubts creep in and the books come out again. I'll love them one day. I think.

My head is telling me this is a Lesser black-backed Gull, but that dark bit on the bill throws in a small doubt.

I'm quite sure it is just the last features of a juvenile bird. 4th calendar year bird. (I think)

Is that a tear I can see?


 

at

13 comments:

  1. Margaret Birding For Pleasure29 July 2014 at 19:31

    HI Adam I don't know why it would have that black on it's beak! However they are great shots of it and the last shot has a wonderful reflection

    ReplyDelete
  2. TexWisGirl29 July 2014 at 19:45

    how beautiful are they?!

    ReplyDelete
  3. sunshine29 July 2014 at 20:14

    Great photo and wonderful details, gulls can be a pest but they are really beautiful birds.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Carole M.29 July 2014 at 22:15

    it is quite frustrating when there are anomolies to deal with Adam, but you have to admit the gulls do make for a neat image and generally a 'good shoot' when others are light on.

    ReplyDelete
  5. HansHB29 July 2014 at 23:15

    Beautiful serie!
    My post: http://hanshb.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. eileeninmd29 July 2014 at 23:27

    Beautiful gull and closeups, I have not begun to try learning all the gulls.

    ReplyDelete
  7. mick30 July 2014 at 00:10

    Great series of photos. Your northern hemisphere gulls are very difficult to ID with the plumage changes.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Breathtaking30 July 2014 at 07:12

    Adam, I don't know much about Gulls I'm afraid, so can't help, but I do know good photos when I see them, and these are excellent captures.

    ReplyDelete
  9. NatureFootstep30 July 2014 at 07:51

    Gulls are beautiful birds but soo hard to get an ID right. ) Love the images.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Unknown30 July 2014 at 16:35

    Fantastic shots! Beautiful birds, but especially the young ones are hard to id.

    ReplyDelete
  11. A Colorful World30 July 2014 at 16:50

    I'm like you--have never been too crazy about gulls. In general, water birds are not my favorites. I like the woodland birds, the songbirds and the raptors. Well, and the hummers. :-) But, then I feel guilty. I hope that ISN'T a tear!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous30 July 2014 at 21:09

    Beautiful shots!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous31 July 2014 at 05:34

    Lovely shots of the gulls.

    ReplyDelete

I enjoy reading your comments as much as I enjoy taking the pictures. Thank you for taking the time to comment on my post.