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Black-headed Gull


Black-headed Gull
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Ellstrom (ellis49) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3387 W: 343 N: 9480] (30807)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-04-27
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 100-300 /4 HSM, Digital RAW 200
Exposure: f/8, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds In Flight Part Two [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-05-03 8:17
Viewed: 1228
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
En. Black-headed Gull, Da. Hættemåge, Du. Kokmeeuw, Fi. Naurulokki, Fr. Mouette rieuse, Ge. Lachmöwe, It. Gabbiano comune, No. Hettemåke, Sp. Gaviota reidora, Sw. Skrattmås

It’s a very common bird in Sweden, They come in the end of March and stay to Sep-Oct.
In our small river they stay about 3 weeks and then most of them disappear and return in the end of the summer with a lot of young birds.
They have always a brown head when they are here; I have never seen them with a white head.

From www.birdguides.com
/
Novice birdwatchers are often perplexed when they see gulls in winter with mostly white heads which are called Black-headed Gulls, then even more puzzled when you explain that in summer the heads actually become brown, although they often look black from a distance. In summer plumage, the dark hood only just covers the face and doesn't go down the nape as in the other dark-headed gulls. In winter plumage you have to look carefully at the distribution of black on the head and compare it with the dark eye-mask of a Mediterranean Gull and the sooty skull-cap of a Little Gull. Black-headed Gulls in all plumages have a white forewing, making a triangular white panel in the leading edge of the primaries.
Breeds on coastal and inland marshes, moorland and gravel pits. Winters on estuaries, lakes, reservoirs, coasts and rubbish tips.
The commonest British gull, found virtually everywhere.
Widespread and common in many parts of Europe.
167000 breeding pairs in Britain, a further 53 800 in Ireland. This is one of the most 'inland' of the gulls, often seen far from the coast. Winter figures are probably in excess of 1900000 birds. About 2 million pairs in Europe

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Technique:
Sigma 100-300 /4 @208mm
ISO 200, Raw-format, AI-servo focus.
Converted, Levels/Curves, Contrast, Crop, resized to 800 pixels , USM , converted to sRGB save as JPG for the WEB. I used Adobe Photoshop CS for PP
ddg, dew77, pompey, PDP, marhowie, Luc, Janice, TAZ, coasties, tinman has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Well done on this capture, Gert.
I'll have to get shot like this of our ringed bills. A few fries should do the trick.
Excelent composition and details.

Mike

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 23 N: 942] (5111)
  • [2005-05-03 9:52]

Beau sujet Gert, beaucoup de grace dans cet oiseau. Félicitations Didier.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6160] (21052)
  • [2005-05-03 10:19]

Magnificent capture of this gull in flight. Every detail is razor sharp. I love those widespread wings. Great pose and excellent composition. The exposure is perfect. Great job!

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-05-03 11:40]

Very clear shot Gert!
Position of wings,3D effect and the composition are excellent.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 146 W: 4 N: 745] (2768)
  • [2005-05-03 13:24]

Great action shot Gert, lovely flight feather details, great pose.
Good note.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-05-03 15:20]

Hi Gert, conversley we see mainly the winter plumage here, we see a few black heads but then they are gone. Striking pose to this one and great exposure and composition. Very well done.

Hello Gert
Is not a duck !
Nice shot. The colours are very good. Sea, White, Black is not a good mixture for photography. Well done.
The sharpness ...

Excellent shot Gert. Great exposure, composition and details with a winning pose. Very well done!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-05-03 21:05]

Personal assessment of the photo: excellent.
Very strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you friend Gert.

Great inflight shot, I would just rotate it 3 degrees ccw.
Good details and POV.
Well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-05-04 3:48]

Good capture Gert. Your gull is so very sharp. Excellent action shot, perfect composition and details and great pose. Well shown. Thank you.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-05-04 4:00]

Très belle et intéressante photographie pour cette Mouette en phase d'amerrissage. Jolies couleurs, bonne nettetée et bon rendu du mouvement.
Very Well Done !!!

Awesome Gert. A really excellent shot. Look at that wing detail. Very nice work with the whites. This is a winner! Thanks

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-05-04 6:07]

This is a nice shot Gert. Loads of black-headed Gulls visit the little harbour in front of my house each day, but I never managed to get such a decent shot. Good frozen action, excellent exposure on the whites. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

They may be common, but getting this type of shot requires a combination of skill, luck and good light. This image has all these elements and is topped off with great composition on a contrasting background that emphasises all the features of the bird. On topof that, there are no other distracting birds or objects in the image. So, well done Gert, perhaps the best gull shot on TN thus far.

  • Great 
  • tinman Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 242 W: 7 N: 458] (2663)
  • [2005-05-07 18:58]

Excellent capture - super sharp and great action. Well done. Tim. PS the note is very interesting too.

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