Seafood Special (Great Black-Backed Gull)

I mentioned yesterday that the weather was 'inconsistent'. Well today was damp, grey and windy but there's only so long I can take being cooped up so we headed over to Rottingdean. Where it was damp, grey and windy.

A few gulls were sheltering on the pebbles. It was quiet, and there was little worth photographing until, that is, I saw a great black-backed gull fly in. It had seen something on the beach and I went to investigate.
Great Black-Backed gull with crab

It was sufficiently intent on feeding to ignore me as I approached a little closer.

The surrounding black-headed and herring gulls were leaving it alone, and only dared approach as it was near finishing its feast. Even then, they were given short shrift.

We continued our walk along the undercliff path. A lone boat was out on the water.

boat in rough seasLooks rough out there

We followed it as it made its way along the coast. It seemed to be more or less following a path between flagged buoys, and despite appearances in the previous shot it wasn't sinking. At least we hope not. When I checked the photos later I could make out a yachtsman on board, so I presume he had things more or less under control (or would at least have been able to signal for help… the local marina is just a mile away from where he was).

boat in rough seasA few minutes later

Of course when we got home, the sun emerged (briefly). That's always the way.

There's a longer sequence of shots of the gull feeding up on my site.
Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D. The first shot and the gull were all photographed with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens. The yacht was photographed with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS.

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This Post Has 10 Comments

  1. SittingFox

    12 Oct 2009

    Powerful looking gull – not someone to argue with :eyes:

    Rottingdean is certainly the place to go for big waves!

  2. gdare

    12 Oct 2009

    I think that yahtman thought `Oh, what a beautiful day for sailing…` :faint: I am not afraid of water but I suppose the sea was not that warm to swim if boat sinks :left:

  3. RobinL

    12 Oct 2009

    Great post. Love the sailboat disapearing in the trough of the waves and such and imposing gull!

  4. Words

    13 Oct 2009

    Adele, I always enjoy seeing the black-backeds among the endless herring gulls. It's handy having the sea so close on those dull windy days. There's always something to see there. I don't suppose you'll be nipping to the coast this week!

  5. Words

    13 Oct 2009

    Robin, thanks! I thought the boat was about to disappear at one point, but thankfully it was ok. I guess they're designed to float!

  6. Words

    13 Oct 2009

    Darko, I've no idea why he went out. It was rough all day. Maybe it's more of a challenge. :ninja:

  7. SittingFox

    13 Oct 2009

    Not easily – I'm about as far away from the sea as it's possible to be in Canada! I suppose the Arctic Ocean is the closest, but Baffin Island in October might be too chilly even for me :smurf:

  8. Words

    13 Oct 2009

    Adele, thought it might be a bit of trek for you.

  9. Flying Red Fox Blog

    14 Oct 2009

    Lovelly photos! the weather seems to be going in a sequence of sunny, cloudy, sunny, cloudy isnt it lol 😛

  10. Words

    15 Oct 2009

    Mark, yes it's one day on, one day off or something like that. Forecast is ok for the weekend though :yes:

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