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Lesser Black-backed Gull


Lesser Black-backed Gull
Photo Information
Copyright: Tom Conzemius (pirate) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 463 W: 101 N: 600] (3039)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-04-07
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS10D, 100-400L is
Exposure: f/8, 1/750 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-06-27 7:38
Viewed: 877
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) is a large gull which breeds on the Atlantic coasts of Europe. It is migratory, wintering from the British Isles south to West Africa. It is also a regular winter visitor to the east coast of North America, probably from the breeding population in Iceland.

They are similar in size to the Herring Gull or just slightly smaller. The only confusable species in Europe is Great Black-backed Gull. Lesser is a smaller bird, with slimmer build, yellow rather than pinkish legs and smaller white "mirrors" at the wing tips. The adults have black or dark grey wings (depending on race) and back. The bill is yellow with a red spot. The head is greyer in winter, unlike Great Black-backed.

Young birds have scaly black-brown upperparts and a neat wing pattern. They take four years to reach maturity. Identification from juvenile Herring Gulls is most readily done by the more solidly dark (unbarred) tertial feathers.

The call is a "laughing" cry like that of the Herring Gull (to which this species is closely related), but with a markedly deeper pitch.

They are omnivores like most Larus gulls, and they will scavenge as well as seeking suitable small prey.

There are three races:

Larus fuscus fuscus - Baltic Sea, eastern Scandinavia. Mantle jet black.
Larus fuscus intermedius - Denmark, Netherlands, Norway. Mantle sooty black.
Larus fuscus graellsii - British Isles, Iceland, northern France. Mantle dark grey.
from wikipedia
scottevers7, Mariol, Luis52 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 165 N: 8400] (26072)
  • [2007-06-27 9:14]

Hello Tom,
The Lesser Black-backed Gull has seriously declined along our coast, so when I look at this fine shot I feel what you felt when you saw my Winchat. I haven't seen this species this year. Nice sharpness, composition and wing action.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • meyerd Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 424 W: 64 N: 1276] (3985)
  • [2007-06-27 10:26]

Tom,
you caught a magic milisecond, when the wings touch above the bird. In stroking down the wings this generates a vacuum helping the bird to get off the water (ground). Truly great picture!
My best regards,
Dietrich

OU AH what a lengh of wings!!!you can see what an effort will come to fly up!
next time i would like to see also the shot just after this one,when the wings go down again and the body goes up.
great!
caroline

Hi Tom,
great timing to catch this really cool pose. Love the wings straight up like that. Colors and detail are excellent in this one. Great shot!
scott

Hi Tom,
Very good action shot. Perfect timing.
TFS, Mario

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1025 W: 5 N: 2899] (10487)
  • [2007-06-28 10:44]

Hola Tom. Bella foto con exelentes detalles. Esta hermosa "Gaviota" parece estar jugando en el agua del mar. Felicidades Luis52.

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