Silver Gull (Larus novaehollandiae) – St Kilda Beach
I think this first image might be a youngish gull as the beak colour looks more brown than reddish (like the adults have), although it doesn’t have the brown tips on its wings like a juvenile.. The second image (if you can see the bird that is), is one of the few times I’ve got a flying seagull in reasonable focus. It’s a bit easier to photograph them coming in to land or taking off as they’re flying much slower. I’d say the shot was more luck than skill.
I’m still trying to rest my injured left thumb a bit, so haven’t been out to take photos for a few days. Hope to be out & about more next week, or even the weekend (if its fine enough).
Excellent captures Victoria. In the first one you can get to know him, in the second he shows you what he’s worth… Wonderful post
Very nice, Robyn.
Thankyou Robyn. I like the way you describe the gull in each photo – very well put.
Very pretty.
Thankyou Scott.
I never usually notice seagulls because they are everywhere in our closest town – your photos have made me notice them – wonderful!
Thanks Julie, My WordPress glitch has resolved itself so I can now reply.
I think seagulls deserve more attention in photography. Just because they’re common doesn’t make them any less of a photo subject. Except for the occasional cormorant and a new bird I saw the other week called a Hoary-headed Grebe, Seagulls are about the only bird I see at the local beach.
The details of the first picture is quite amazing. And the light is accentuating all those details. A lovely shot. I like the limited colour palette – which goes for both pictures. The picture of the seagull taken during flight is very nice too, but I wonder why you framed it this way. It makes it almost looks like it’s stand still in the air. Another lovely shot. Great work.
Thanks for your comment Otto. That first shot turned out to be a lucky one. I knelt down in the wet sand, airmed at the gull’s eye and my hand was really steady so the photo turned out really well. Was nice soft light on that day too. All in all, a pleasing image that only required a small bit of editing and cropping.
The second image was just a random shot. I can’t take photos of flying birds – I’m too slow. I saw the seagull overhead , turned my camera up over my head & pressed the shutterbutton. By a miracle, it actually turned out to have fairly good focus. There was no thought to background, wing position or framing. It was just a chance shot that I thought to share.
I’ve given up trying to shoot flying birds unless they’re taking off, or coming in to land, and moving very slowly. Even then, I rarely get one in focus. I’m better at taking stationery subjects or if I’m thinking clearly enough, I set the camera on continuos bursts and one shot might be in focus.
Great shots! We have lots of seagulls around here – LOTS.
Thanks Fergiemoto