Check out the Sea Gulls (8 pic)

9 years ago

Quite the scavenger, nick-named "flying rats" in coastal areas. But if you're bored, entertain yourself with their aerial maneuvers. They perform some acrobatic flying with their wing action. Being close enough, and slow enough, you can practice some action photography, which can be done right from a beach chair. There can be long waits for one to be in a correct position, so take plenty of beer.

Flying under the sun highlights the wings.

They have different looking eyes.

There can be a stare-down if you have food.

In many years, I've only caught one in full speed dive mode.

To snitch food on the sand, they land to eat. For more ambitious action, wade out in the water with some snacks. They prefer to grab it in flight, and use incredible wing action.

Look at those wings to drop down to a snack.

They do get tired after a days work.

Stay late, and see if you can capture one in the shimmer of a sunset.

Good luck enjoying your seagulls.

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Comments (16)

phyllis__mn
9 years ago
Great pictures!
alisande
9 years ago
Nice pics! I spent a lot of time with gulls on Long Island and in Florida. Here in landlocked PA, I sometimes feed them in parking lots. They usually hang out within range of a fast-food restaurant. Even if I don't see them, they'll show up if I throw some peanuts into the air. They are always watching!
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
9 years ago
I have a real fondness for sea gulls. They were so much fun to watch while at the beach....such little comedians ; ALWAYS looking for food stealing opportunities.

Those have got to be (adult and juvenile) ring billed gulls, right? I don't think I've ever seen one of those in person.
glenda_al
9 years ago
Enjoyed your photos!
rob333 (zone 7b)
9 years ago
I tried and tried to get the laughing gulls in St. Thomas, but these guys are so hard pressed to steal food, they shout in your face if you are eating! And then, when you pick up the camera and aim it at them, they must think you're aiming a gun at them because they fly away so quickly, like they're running for their lives. Silly birds. Never could get a good shot. Glad you have some good ones, I feel sated now.

The below shows what they look like. That leaning in and squaking thing is in your face as you sit at the table trying to eat in peace, but they want your food.

Here is a link that might be useful: the first 8 seconds shows how they get in your face

This post was edited by rob333 on Thu, Jul 31, 14 at 13:31
yayagal
9 years ago
Old fixer your photos are amazing, you've captured the birds so well and each one could be framed and hung. I love that you have such a passion, we all need one. Below I've attached some photos of Jamie Wyeth's enormous painting of seagulls, it's called Seven Deadly Sins and the birds are shown as examples of the sins. I've seen it in person and it's stunning. My passion is art so I'd love you to see these.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jamie Wyeths painting
oldfixer
Original Author
9 years ago
I think ring bill is correct. They are NOT my passion, just an easy subject to photograph, waiting for a clever shot. Make up a plate of nacho chips, soaked in a bottle of hot sauce. They will eat it. They swallow a hot dog, whole. PIGS!!
Hey YaYa, just what is that Wyeth painting site? One of my pictures is on it. Who put that there??
carabubble
9 years ago
Beautiful photos!
yayagal
9 years ago
Those are all oil paintings, no photos there at all.
oldfixer
Original Author
9 years ago
Sorry YaYa, the link you gave takes me to a "collage" of thumb nail images, many of them photos, and one of mine is in there. Not all the images are seagulls. Undoubtedly some are the paintings by your person too. Can't explain why your link gives me that weird result?
arkansas girl
9 years ago
That is a link to google images so all sorts of results can come up...don't you guys use google to search for stuff? If not, you should start! :)
oldfixer
Original Author
9 years ago
She made it sound like a link to a specific site. Not one I have to figure out who's who.
lydia1959
9 years ago
Great shots! Makes me want to take a vacation at the beach just to feed the birds.
Fun2BHere
9 years ago
In the garden of my last house, I had a host of volunteer tomato plants because the sea gulls would eat tomatoes from the fast food places' garbage, then fly over my garden and deliver a perfectly fertilized load of tomato seeds that grew like weeds.

Love your pictures, OF.
lisa_fla
9 years ago
Great pictures! Loved them all. I am going to the beach tomorrow! I see I need to be more patient with photos. DH tells me-take a lot-its digital, not film, its free!
oldfixer
Original Author
9 years ago
He's right, digital allows lots of extra clicking. Aerial birds sometimes give me blank sky, or tails. I never sit there and look at previous shots, wears down the batteries too quick. Have fun at the sand box.

Check out the Sea Gulls (8 pic)

Comments (16)

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Check out the Sea Gulls (8 pic)

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