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Larus ridibundus


Larus ridibundus
Photo Information
Copyright: Lukasz Talaga (himself) Silver Star Critiquer [C: 21 W: 0 N: 1] (93)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 2006-01-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Sigma SD9, zwierciadło 500/8 MF
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/90 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-03-19 4:42
Viewed: 1042
Points: 4
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Polish]
The Black-headed Gull, (Larus ridibundus), is a small gull which breeds in much of Europe and Asia, and also in coastal eastern Canada. Most of the population is migratory, wintering further south, but some birds in the milder westernmost areas of Europe are resident.

This gull is 38-44cm long with a 94-105 cm wingspan. It breeds in colonies in large reedbeds or marshes, or on islands in lakes, nesting on the ground. Like most gulls, it is highly gregarious in winter, both when feeding or in evening roosts. It is not a pelagic species, and is rarely seen at sea far from coasts.

The Black-headed Gull is a bold and opportunist feeder, which will scavenge in towns or take invertebrates in ploughed fields with equal relish.

In flight, the white leading edge to the wing is a good field mark. The summer adult has a chocolate-brown head (not black, despite the name), pale grey body, black tips to the primary wing feathers, and red bill and legs. The hood is lost in winter, leaving just dark vertical streaks.

This species takes two years to reach maturity. First year birds have a black terminal tail band, more dark areas in the wings, and, in summer, a less fully developed dark hood.

This is a noisy species, especially at colonies, with a familiar "kree-ar" call.



wikipedia.pl

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To klemmg: .himself 1 03-19 14:49
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Critiques [Translate]

interesting action shot, lukasz! :-)
what did he catch? a piece of bread?
i´m trying to do this, too,
and they give me a really hard time.
maybe a faster shutter speed could freeze
things a bit more.
take care, thor.

Hi Lukasz,
A nice capture.I feel you should have increased the shutter speed to get wings in focus.
TFS
navnith

Good capture of inter-species competition. The in-focus larger gull in front (NOT L. ridibundus) gets away with the bit of bread.Focus is spot on on the fleeing gull. Motion-blurred wings add dynamic.
The chasing L. ridibundus are blurred at narrow DOF at f/3.5; at an increased f/stop it would have been possible to include them in the sharp area.
At 1/90 detail lost due to blurr at the in-focus part of the picture. Using longer lenses usually requires either shorter exposure or a tripod.
The light is very nice and makes these "golden-tinged mercury" type of relections on the water.

Well done!

Regards,
Gabi

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