Herring Gulls

The answer to the Gull and Tern Quiz is…

By Mia McPherson, on January 28th, 2013%

There were 30 people that voted on this quiz, these were the votes:

Juvenile Western Gull, 1st winter Franklin’s Gull, Elegant Tern: 1 vote (3%)

Juvenile Herring Gull, 1st winter Laughing Gull and Royal Tern: 25 votes (83%)

Juvenile Western Gull, 1st winter Franklin’s Gull, Royal Tern: 3 votes (10%)

Other answer: Clueless LOL = 1 Vote (3%)

The majority of you voted for the correct answer: Juvenile Herring Gull, 1st winter Laughing Gull and Royal Tern

Juvenile Herring Gull

The range of Herring Gulls includes Florida as a wintering location. The range of Western Gulls does not extend into to Florida, it is primarily found on the Pacific Coast and it would be a very rare visitor to Florida.

1st winter Laughing Gull

Laughing Gulls are found along the Atlantic and Gulf coast year round, Franklin’s Gulls are vagrants to the same area. A 1st Winter Franklin’s Gull would show less brown on the back and upper wings than the bird in the quiz image did and the bill would be smaller.

Royal Tern in breeding plumage

Both Royal Terns and Elegant Terns are large crested Terns. The range of the Royal Tern includes Florida as year round residents while Elegant Terns shows them only as vagrants to the East Coast but does not show them in Florida.

You all did great!

Thanks for playing, it was a fun quiz!

Mia

Herring Gulls

By Mia McPherson, on June 2nd, 2012%

Two Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) at different stages of life, one is an adult in breeding plumage, the other an immature gull in flight.

Adult Herring Gull in breeding plumage – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 300mm, natural light

An exposed sandbar, soft morning light and the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the background were the perfect setting for this adult Herring Gull in breeding plumage. When I saw this bird from the water after coming around a clump of mangroves I just knew I ached for the opportunity to photograph it so I had to be careful not to alarm the gull or risk scaring it away.

My approach was slow & low, on my knees in the shallows, pausing to allow the bird to adjust to my presence and then creeping forward again. When I got within range I was able to lay down in the water with my elbows braced on the sandy bottom to keep my gear up and out of the gentle waves. Was my cautious approach, getting soaked to the skin and having sand creep into my pants, top and water shoes worth it? I think so.

Immature Herring Gull in flight – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 210mm, natural light

I was standing up when I photographed this immature Herring Gull which allowed me to turn as I tracked it in flight. I think this is a 1st summer bird but I am not absolutely positive. If anyone knows for sure, please feel free to correct me.

An interesting fact: Herring Gulls live at least 35 years.

Mia

In a Fog

By Mia McPherson, on February 28th, 2012%

While I prefer to have beautiful morning sun, photographing in fog can be quite fun too.

Foggy sunrise ~ Fort De Soto County Park, Florida
Nikon D200, handheld, f5.6, 1/2500, ISO 400, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 300mm, natural light

During the winter months sea fogs can roll onto the shore of Fort De Soto and it doesn’t usually show up on radar. After driving for 45 minutes to get to the beach I often felt like it would be foolish to turn around without taking a shot so I would walk the beach with camera in hand. Besides it is difficult to tell how quickly the fog will burn off.

The glowing orb in the photo above is the sun through a thick fog bank.

People feeding gulls in a fog ~ Guess they were ignoring the “Do Not Feed the Birds” signs
Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 400, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

The fog muffled the sounds, I remember I could barely hear the waves lapping the shoreline the day I took these photos, the cries of the gulls sounded distant and the fog on my skin felt like dew drops. I had remembered to open the windows of my vehicle while driving to the fort so my camera and lens were the same temperature as it was on the beach, that helped to reduce any fogging on my lens.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

When photographing in a fog I like to be close to my subject to minimize the softening effect of the moisture laden air. I sand-crawled up to this adult Herring Gull just inches at a time and then raised my lens to photograph the subject.

Preening Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

Not too far from the Herring Gull I found this Laughing Gull preening where the gentle waves were being pushed onto the sand. Despite the thick fog I was able to get a catch light in the bird’s eye even in this funny pose.

Resting Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 340mm, natural light

Between the Gulf and a tidal lagoon there was a spit of hard packed sand where I found this resting Ring-billed Gull, how could I resist taking its picture? Some people won’t bother to photograph gulls because they are common, I guess I don’t fall into that group. I like to photograph them.

Sea Star in a lagoon
Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/350, ISO 500, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 145mm, natural light

After photographing the birds on the beach I prowled in and around the mangroves at the edge of the tidal lagoons and found this huge Sea Star, it was about the size of a dinner plate. I don’t know what species it is and would appreciate an ID if anyone knows what it is. I wish I could have used more depth of field to get the tips of the arms sharp too, but I had to work withe the light I had.

I’m glad I didn’t turn around to head home when I saw the thick sea fog that morning, if I had I would have missed photographing some of these beautiful things and the memories of wandering in a fog.

Mia