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Oooops

Discussion

17 replies
Posted by Ian Macdermott on March 2, 2010 at 6:20 PM
Oooops
As it was very nice weather today I wobbled over to a local nature reserve and spent several pleasant hours there.

I was taken by the behaviour of the Lesser black backed gulls ( I think )
They would pick up a stone well that’s what it looked like and then fly into the air and then drop it and try to catch it again. There were several of them doing it anyone any idea why ?


D700
400mm 2.8 with 1.7 TC
1/800 sec f8 ISO 1000
Tripod


:toast: :toast:
Posted by Ian Macdermott on March 2, 2010 at 6:22 PM
Another one at it :confused:
Posted by David Taylor on March 2, 2010 at 6:25 PM
Beak/eye co-ordination practice? :smile: :wink: It would be very nice to know for sure. Well spotted Ian.

:toast: :toast: :jump:
Posted by John Robinson on March 2, 2010 at 6:30 PM
Not dropping cockles or similar to break them ?
JohnR
Posted by Ian Macdermott on March 2, 2010 at 6:32 PM
No they were doing it over water John
Posted by David Sewell on March 3, 2010 at 4:33 AM
No idea what they were up to, but two fascinating shots.

David
Posted by John Chapman on March 3, 2010 at 5:00 AM
Hi Ian, probably for fun! well caught. :toast:
Posted by Craig Jones on March 3, 2010 at 5:35 AM
Seen the same behaviour in Norfolk where the Gull's fly up with a mussel/cockle and drop it again and again until it breaks,but never seen them practising like this :confused: Love the first,great behaviour captured Ian :wink: :wink: :wavey:
Posted by Karen Summers on March 3, 2010 at 6:12 AM
I have seen this before when the bird picks up a shelled cockle etc and then they drop it to break the shell a great behavioural shot
Posted by Mike Smith on March 3, 2010 at 6:25 AM
As these are both young birds perhaps they are copying the adult behaviour but haven't yet learnt it needs to be somthing edible rather than just something round and hard.... :confused:
Posted by Ian Macdermott on March 3, 2010 at 6:28 AM
Cheers for the replies :smile:


I think Mike might hit the nail on the head :biggrin:
Posted by Jeremy on March 3, 2010 at 6:35 AM
Have seen gulls and crows doing this with cockles, etc.. I will have a look out for stone-dropping. Great behavioural shots, especially the first one!
Posted by Dave Bartlett on March 3, 2010 at 7:35 AM
Interesting shot. I have also seen birds dropping mussels etc on the ground to break them, but also seen immatures dropping them in the water (at least they got half the idea!!). I've not seen stones being thrown around though!!
Posted by eric weight on March 3, 2010 at 12:42 PM
Interesting shots Ian - I especially like the comp on the first. The smaller the bird in the frame and the nearer it is to the edge, the faster it seems to be going.
:toast: eric
Posted by Rene de Heer on March 3, 2010 at 1:20 PM
Nice shot, i like the first one as well. Never seen this behaviour before.
Rene de Heer
Posted by Paul Rosser on March 3, 2010 at 3:10 PM
Great captures both of them, and very well spotted! Good practice for Saturday!
Regards,
Paul. :wavey:
Posted by David Kjaer on March 3, 2010 at 5:32 PM
Great behaviour image and nicely framed!

David :toast:
Posted by Philip Newman on March 4, 2010 at 10:52 AM
Agreed nicely composed and great behaviour. :toast: :toast: