Sunday, 22 February 2015

No Laughing Matter

I am slowly starting to appreciate gulls. It has taken me a very long time to take two looks at them, in case it is something other than a Black-headed Gull. I've found myself hunting down the rarer varieties just recently. As I said in a previous post, I even took to bribery to be able to get out to see the Laughing Gull.
Last weekend, I managed to fit in an hour or so at Pennington Flash, where it just happened to have a Mediterranean Gull among hundreds of Black-headed Gull. I also picked out a very nice looking Common Gull too. How times have changed for me and these birds. It's like I'm in a new relationship.

Common Gull

A good looking Mediterranean Gull
 
Before it moved closer, it was quite obvious amongst the other gulls.
 
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26 comments:

  1. Susan23 February 2015 at 04:58

    The Mediterranean is very attractive!

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  2. maryaustria23 February 2015 at 14:53

    The mediterranean is really outstanding! Wonderful shots!

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  3. Findlay Wilde23 February 2015 at 17:45

    Great pictures, especially like Med Gull in amongst the others.

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  4. mick23 February 2015 at 19:59

    Great photos of the two kinds of gulls and the Mediterranean Gull certainly stands out among all the others.

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  5. Phil Slade23 February 2015 at 20:01

    I'm pleased you found a new love Adam. I think I too neglected gulls but I do now find them really interesting, good to watch and best of all to photograph. I'm still waiting for a Med Gull picture though.

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  6. Karen @ Pieces of Contentment23 February 2015 at 20:08

    I've never stopped to think about different gulls - I guess they are a whole new section of birds for careful watching and identifying.

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  7. EG CameraGirl23 February 2015 at 20:10

    Yep, learning which gull is which is not easy, that's for certain. It's one of my goals for 2015. Your photos are excellent!

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  8. Hootin Anni23 February 2015 at 20:21

    How exciting for you to find one special gull among so many others.

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  9. eileeninmd23 February 2015 at 21:00

    Congrats on your sighting..The Mediterranean Gull is a beautiful bird.. It is easy to pick out of that group shot. Great post!

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  10. theconstantwalker23 February 2015 at 21:02

    Gulls are so difficult to identify Adam... I have bought so many books lol.
    Thanks for the birthday comment... I am still in my twenties in my head it's my knees that are almost 60

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  11. carol l mckenna23 February 2015 at 22:55

    Beautiful gulls and great photography!

    Happy Week to you,
    artmusedog and carol

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  12. Christian Perrin24 February 2015 at 10:20

    Wow, that Mediterranean Gull is stunning! It obviously pays to look closer. I've actually started doing this too - I turned up a Greater Sand Plover among a flock of Lesser Sand Plovers on Sunday, as well as uncommon Black-tailed Godwits mixed in with the Bar-taileds.

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  13. Stewart M24 February 2015 at 11:52

    We really only have 3 species of gull here - and they are pretty easy to tell apart - a BHG would start a bit of a twitch here!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  14. Mary Howell Cromer24 February 2015 at 16:57

    These are beautiful birds, superb images~

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  15. Karen24 February 2015 at 17:19

    I like gulls, you got some fabulous shots! The Mediterranean Gull is quite handsome.

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  16. TexWisGirl24 February 2015 at 17:40

    very pretty. have never seen gulls here at our place - just in parking lots. :)

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  17. Margaret Birding For Pleasure24 February 2015 at 21:20

    The Med gull stands out well from the other gulls. Great close up shot.

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  18. Carletta24 February 2015 at 23:59

    Super close ups!
    I have always loved the gull. The first experience for this country girl was in college. My then boyfriend (now husband) invited me to the Virginia coastline on Spring Break. The first morning I woke to the sound of gulls. It is a sound that I still enjoy hearing.

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  19. Andrea @ From The Sol25 February 2015 at 00:06

    I have always loved gulls and all of their gall and antics, but like you, I seldom look past the common gulls that are around our lake. I am sure if I would take the time I would spot many different kinds as large groups of them pass through here during migration in the spring ... maybe I will do that. You might have sparked my interest. Thanks ...

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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  20. Anonymous25 February 2015 at 05:06

    I didn't even know there were different types of gulls!

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  21. A Green and Rosie Life25 February 2015 at 12:44

    Gorgeous shots of 2 different gulls - I need to get up the coast again and do some bird watching.
    Many thanks for joining in with #AnimalTales and these lovely gulls.

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  22. betty-NZ26 February 2015 at 08:37

    Gulls have interesting personalities, I find. I'm glad you have given them another glance. That second one is gorgeous! Reminds me of the terns I see here in New Zealand.

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  23. Stewart M26 February 2015 at 10:28

    Great pictures - brings back memories of hours at the Fish Quay in Newcastle - although I never recall finding much!!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  24. Hootin Anni26 February 2015 at 10:48

    ...like that top image, the gull is telling us all to head "S"outh for the Winter.

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  25. NCSue26 February 2015 at 12:46

    Nice shots! I always admire your bird photos
    Thank you for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/02/off-of-saint-maarten.html

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  26. A Colorful World26 February 2015 at 21:04

    Like you, gulls were never one of my "first loves." But I enjoyed my husband telling our grandson about the different kinds of gulls when we were back in Virginia. He being raised on the coast, it was something he was very familiar with.

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