Saturday, April 10, 2010

Camera Critters: Bonaparte's Gulls


Last weekend I discovered a flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls that had stopped at our local lake during their spring migration. I posted a few of my better shots then and am continuing with more photographs from that event today.



These birds were quite docile allowing me to bring the boat to within a few feet of them while photographing from different lighting angles. On this occasion a number of the birds took off nearly in unison. The bright morning sun lit the birds perfectly during takeoff silhouetting them perfectly against the shadowed shoreline.



This little gull, deciding to join its mates resting on the water, gave me a beautiful pass shot as it came in for a landing.

Sometimes we capture poses completely missed with the naked eye and this photo is a good case in point. The gulls had separated into two groups spaced about a quarter of a mile apart with gulls flying back and forth between. The situation was perfect for pass shooting and I spent about one half of an hour photographing the birds as they flew.


Only when reviewing the images did I notice that this bird was flying straight ahead while turning its head turned upside down. I am well aware that gulls are masters of the air but this is an incredible feat that I did not expect even from these agile acrobats of the air.

For more Critters of all Kinds
Visit Misty at her Camera Critters Blog

15 comments:

Adrienne Zwart said...

Coy, these shots are stunning! I can just imagine being in the boat as that group took off. Breathtaking!

Linda said...

Amazing photos.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

That last shot is so unique.This is the joy of photography.
Blessings,Ruth

Carletta said...

That first shot is beautiful! Lot of action and I'd say definitely magazine worthy.
I've spent time looking at that last shot and my neck hurts. I had no idea any bird was capable of that. Nice capture.
Carletta’s Captures.

eden said...

Fabulous captures of the gulls in flight. Very nice !

Anonymous said...

I hope you have noticed, I have, that your photos on this blog and this color just pops off every time I come here.

It also helps that the top picture is perfect.

Montanagirl said...

Wow - that last shot made me do a double-take! Great capture!

eileeninmd said...

Fantastic images of the seagulls. BTW, I love your new header, awesome!

Chris said...

Splendid Coy.. I love the third shot a lot, very funny... The background on all your last pictures is just plain awesome!!

FAB said...

Not seen that interesting element of arial acrobatics before. Thanks for sharing Coy.

Michael said...

Amazing pics. That top one with the dark shoreline behind the gulls is very good.

Elaine said...

Nice series, and the first shot is really spectacular.

Samantha ~ Holly and Zac ~ said...

Great shots, it looks like that bird is upside down when you first look at it.

Meggie said...

I thought the little guy was flying upside down! Perhaps he/she was "under the influence."

Misty DawnS said...

That first shot is outstanding, and the last shot made me laugh out loud - what a neat capture.