The main problem with arriving at Felixstowe Ferry at high tide is that there is very little birdlife to snap except for the resident gull population. The latter were very obliging when it came to posing, though:
Looking a bit blown!
It was nice to see our great black-backed pair looking relaxed.
This herring gull braces itself to suggest to the GBB's that it's his turn on the post.
He clearly didn't get the answer he wanted.
I can actually tell that this is a young herring gull as the pale feathers are starting to appear.
An adult looking effortlessly beautiful in flight.
This crow pauses in between shouts to wonder what all the flags are for.
Some of the gulls are already showing breeding plumage.
This one isn't!
Enjoy!
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
Wonderful photos. I suppose you are as familiar with your Gulls as I am with my Robins and other garden birds. It makes for an interesting pictorial diary. Keep 'em coming!
Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos
(One bush does not shelter two Robins)
Zenodotus (3rd Century B.C.)
No shortage of gulls around Felixtowe. The Great Black-backed are impressive looking birds aren't they.
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Every nice gull loves a sailor :)
"Let loose the Kraken!"
Oh very witty Stuart!
Yes Clare, more gulls please, you are educating us all with your great pics & info ... I certainly need it ... shamed to say that given I've lived at the coast for a lot more years than I'm going to publicise!!! Lol
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
super photo set and report Clare, the gulls are always good fun to photograph and the GBBGs look very imposing birds. Nice to see the difference in plumage and a great thread to help me learn more tips on IDing them :)
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Regards, Hazel
Always up for gull photos! Lovely pics :)
My blog: http://mazzaswildside.blogspot.co.uk/
My Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124028194@N04/
Now I know who to ask when I want to id the gulls around here, lovely thread Clare - your first shot looks to be really puffed up and comfy sat there on the girders.
Lot to learn
Lovely shots Clare, you can never have too many Gull photos.
My bird photos HERE
Blimey. I'm so pleased you all enjoyed our local gulls - I think they're very photogenic. I'm no expert at ID-ing them, though - I looked up a few of the more common ones when I was working on the port as we had herrings and lesser black-backs nesting everywhere, and I wanted to suss out who was who. I'm not very good at telling the youngsters apart, though it's much easier when a few adult feathers appear.