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Laughing Gull


Laughing Gull
Photo Information
Copyright: Klaus Peter (kjpweb) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 367 W: 86 N: 1084] (4788)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-01-12
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D50, Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD Macro
Exposure: f/8, 1/1000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Angelina's Favorites - Part I [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-01-25 4:24
Viewed: 409
Points: 37
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Laughing Gull, Larus atricilla, is a medium-sized gull of North and South America. It breeds on the Atlantic coast of North America, the Caribbean, southern California, USA, and northern South America. Northernmost populations migrate further south in winter, and this species occurs as a rare vagrant to western Europe, although there was a large influx into North-west Europe in late October 2005 when there was a minimum of 18 (and anywhere up to a possibly maximum of 35) individuals on one day in the UK alone. The Laughing Gull's English name is derived from its raucous kee-agh call, which sounds like a high pitched laugh "ha... ha... ha...".

This species is easy to identify. It is 36-41 cm long with a 98-110 cm wingspan. The summer adult's body is white apart from the dark grey back and wings and black head. Its wings are much darker grey than all other gulls of similar size except the smaller Franklin's Gull, and they have black tips without the white crescent shown by Franklin's. The bill is long and red. The black hood is mostly lost in winter.

Laughing Gulls take three years to reach adult plumage. Immature birds are always darker than most similar sized gulls other than Franklin's. First year birds are greyer below and have paler heads than first year Franklin's, and second years can be distinguished on the wing pattern and structure.

Laughing Gulls breed in coastal marshes and ponds in large colonies. The large nest, made largely from grasses, is constructed on the ground. The 3 or 4 greenish eggs are incubated for about three weeks. These are omnivores like most Larus gulls, and they will scavenge as well as seeking suitable small prey.

My Source of Wisdom

This shot
A lot of fun - with great results. Many gulls at the coast are used to people and here you can train in flight shot until your nose bleeds ;)

Postwork:
Moderate sharpening, Noiseware
Watermarking, Resizing

Thank you for your time
crs, cataclysta, CeltickRanger, MMM, angybone has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pvs: Thanks,kjpweb 3 01-25 10:28
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Critiques [Translate]

wow a great shot of this bird in action, nice details on the feathers and even the feet is clear, really great

  • Good 
  • martel (134)
  • [2008-01-25 4:37]

nice and sharp! .. good grab ..

Hi Klaus
Well presented action shot with nice details.
TFS and have nice weekend
Ralf

Hi Klaus,
A lovely capture of this gull in flying action. Lovely composition and details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 193 W: 0 N: 276] (1157)
  • [2008-01-25 5:39]

Hello Klaus,

Very nice photo. So clear with nice background. Natural colors and excelent details. I do expect the bird to move in the next moment.

hello Klaus

superb shot of a angel's gracious inflight, beautiful sky,
excellent sharpness and details of the white plumage,
excellent contrast in the image and density of the colours,
i love the POV of your image, only thing (for me)
you should zoom less to have in the image all the bird,
some parts of his wings are out of the frame, TFS

Asbed

Hello Klaus,
That's no crocodile, it is an angel actually:-)
Razor sharp parts.
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hi Klaus, wonderful flying gull with splendid details, great sharpness, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

hello klaus,
lovely capture of the flying gull, the pov is excellent and the image is very sharp,
tfs & regards
pankaj

That's not a safe place to be. Underneath a gull is the target zone. Great shot! Super close. Sharp and great exposure. Great Job.

Hello Klaus,

Great picture of this gull. Wonderful composition. Great sharpness. Very nice light and colours. Superb!
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi Klaus,

Wow so THIS is how you capture a gull sharply!!! Great shot, wonderful detail and exposure - really vivid! The lovely blue sky helps :-)

Sounds like you had fun!
Thanks for sharing,

Doug

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1128 W: 254 N: 2428] (11041)
  • [2008-01-25 10:18]
  • [+]

Hi Klaus,

Another great inflight (or should I say in landing) composition,very sharp and detailed with a good dof,the partly clouded BG,looks super as well,

Thanks and have a nice weekend,

Paul

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1104 W: 59 N: 2243] (7437)
  • [2008-01-25 11:30]

Hello Klaus,
A wonderful close-up. Splendid clear colours in the Gull and sky. Very sharp details in the feathers. Very good POV.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • lizzie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 214 W: 0 N: 635] (2843)
  • [2008-01-25 17:13]

Hi Klaus,

I really like this action shot of the gull, Beautiful white, amazing details in the plumage and great sharpness over the whole bird. You've also managed the white very well! Congratulations!

Lise

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 737 W: 0 N: 1497] (6754)
  • [2008-01-25 20:05]

Hi Klaus
Nice in flight presentation.Sharp image with great details.Colors are also very nice.
TFS Michel

Hi Klaus
It is rely great. The sky is so blue, great POV, good sharpness.Very unusual shot
I like it very much
Krzysztof

Like an angel!!!
WOW! There is something so heavenly about this...the way the light shines through those perfectly white feathers. Gorgeous!!!

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-01-26 20:55]

Hello Klaus

The POV is super.The eye contact is excellent.
Very good placement in the frame.
The focus is sharp and the colours are vibrant.
Great job.
TFS

Rob

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