Herring Gulls

After a day of relentless rain, the skies eased off late in the afternoon. There was even a hint of blue. Just time enough to nip down to Rottingdean to photograph some of the coastal bird life. And try out a little of what I've learned in the past couple of days.

Unusually for me, the main focus turned out to be the gulls.

A number of them were feeding on molluscs and were repeatedly climbing into the air before dropping their catch to the ground, presumably to shatter the shell.

Two other birds of note. I can't go to Rottingdean without grabbing at least a couple of shots of fulmars. Here's one, showing its summer, and therefore typically tatty, wing feathers (they moult during the incubation season).

And the final shot is a bit of a treat. A kestrel skimming along the edge of the cliffs.

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Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

This entry was posted in Bird of Prey, water birds and tagged , , .

8 Comments

  1. gdare July 17, 2011 at 8:07 am #

    So, in first three photos you needed to fly along with them in order to get a photo on the same level :whistle:

  2. Words July 17, 2011 at 4:07 pm #

    Darko, something like that. I was at eye level with them. I also changed the metering and exposure settings from what I usually use.

  3. studio41 July 18, 2011 at 7:07 am #

    excellent pictures! elegant flyers.

  4. SittingFox July 18, 2011 at 7:07 pm #

    Hmm…gull photography by jetpack :whistle:

    Great shots, especially the one dropping its prey! :up:

  5. Words July 19, 2011 at 9:07 pm #

    Originally posted by SittingFox:

    gull photography by jetpack

    That would be quite a challenge :yikes:

  6. Words July 19, 2011 at 9:07 pm #

    Jill, thanks!

  7. Words July 21, 2011 at 8:07 pm #

    Erwin, thanks!

  8. Wulpen October 19, 2012 at 8:10 pm #

    great photos