Heermann's Gull

Gallery: AvianPosted January 31, 2014267 views10 comments

I've learned to never discount flocks of "common" gulls - every once in awhile, if you spend a bit of time looking, you will find an unusual one among them. Yes, this gull really has only one leg.

D800
500mm
1/1250 sec, f/8
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
ISO: 400
AF mode: AF-C
White balance: AUTO
Flash: Off

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on January 31, 2014 at 8:03 AM

I especially like to see the good detail in the both shadows and highlights -- looks good

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 31, 2014 at 10:21 AM

Love the pose Sandy, very nice sharpness.
I especially like the monochromatic aspect, set off by the red beak & eye rings

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 31, 2014 at 12:53 PM

Really nice details and that red bill and eye ring work into your composition very well. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 31, 2014 at 1:13 PM

Interesting color contrast and nice detail in the larger version.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 31, 2014 at 1:28 PM

Nice shot, Sandy. Excellent detail and a great pose. I like the simple gray palette with just the splash of red from the beak and eye ring.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on January 31, 2014 at 4:26 PM

When I first looked at this I was thinking maybe tone down the contrast the more I looked I realised how wrong I was, Howards ref" monochromatic aspect" put me right. The red bill and eye ring really make this very nice.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 31, 2014 at 9:23 PM

Nice pose and a complementary setting Sandy - like the way the red contrasts with the shades of grey

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 1, 2014 at 1:17 PM

What I find most interesting about this image is the texture or state of the feathers. Is this a bird with worn out leathers ready to molt? Does the lack of two legs somehow keep the gull from grooming the feathers properly? Did you see other Heermann's Gulls looking as ragged as this bird at the time?

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 1, 2014 at 1:37 PM

Rich, this was the only Heermann's in the gull flock of maybe 50. This was late summer, so probably ready to molt. Or, possibly, feathers still ragged from the injury that took it's leg - sea lion maybe?
The lack of one leg didn't seem to hinder him/her at all - was hopping around quickly to get morsels in the sand.
S

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on February 2, 2014 at 4:30 PM

My favorite gull after the Bonaparte's/ Your exposure shows off the plumage and bill of this gull.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments