Black-tailed Gull

Gallery: AvianPosted October 30, 201189 views6 comments

Thank you, Richard Ditch, for helping me get a more positive ID on this gull.

Looks similar to a Ring-billed Gull, due to the black ring on the bill, but the red on the tip suggests a Black-tailed Gull, which is also makes sense finding it here in Seoul, Korea, where its Korean name, Gwaeng-yi Gull, means cat gull.

Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Sigma DG 120-400mm 1:4.5-5.6 APO OS HSM
Focal Length: 560 (w/ TC)
f8
Shutter 1250
ISO 400
Kenko 1.4X Teleplus Pro 300 DGX
HH
Cropped (~80% off)

Comments and constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on October 30, 2011 at 9:46 AM

Interesting image with all the blacks around the bird, it almost has something sinister to it... Grtz, hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 30, 2011 at 1:39 PM

I've never seen a ring-bill show red on the beak. How about Black-tailed Gull instead? Peter Harrison's A Field Guide to Seabirds of the World describes it as: "Medium sized, dark-backed gull, bill yellow with black band and red tip." The range puts it at home in Korea.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 30, 2011 at 4:31 PM

I like this a lot Mark, very dramatic against that black bg. I think Richard is probably correct on the ID.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Deibert on October 30, 2011 at 6:51 PM

Hey, Richard, thanks for the tip on the Black-tailed Gull. You know, I swear I looked at the black-tailed first, but then, for some reason, dismissed it and never looked at it again. Anyway, thanks so much for your time to comment on my photo. Cheers! Mark

Registered on September 30, 2011, 48 Posts, 125 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on November 1, 2011 at 12:32 AM

Pretty definitely a Black-tailed Gull. Interesting and creative composition/exposure; very dramatic. Certainly focuses the eye on the bird. I saw one of this species in Gambell, AK a few years ago, but on an ice floe, not close enough for anything but a documentary shot. I envy you this fine shot.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on November 1, 2011 at 6:26 AM

Really like the effect you've created here Mark, very nicely done!

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments