As part of my 'if it flies then BIF it day' some gulls on the Manor farm part of the nascent Longwater Road Nature Reserve (LWNR). We get loads of gulls on LWNR and the adjoining Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve (MGLNR). All sorts of gulls and terns breed on MGLNR - particularly on Tern Island in Colebrook lake. Breeding season brings a raucous cacophony of noise to the area.
Matters are quieter during winter, and the large numbers of gulls tend to disappear. They do hang out in larger numbers on LWNR - particularly some of the restorer fen lands. This is not to say they wont take advantage of any water in the parts that are being restored as I type. This lot were on the semi-restored part that will become the Main Reed Beds. I tracked one bird coming in for a landing. Note the Lapwings in the far background, resting on a spit of land.
The bird I am tracking is about 200 yards away from me. My lens was at about 370mm
The pile of soil, to the front right of the photo, is part of some extensive banking (complete with sluice gates) which will surround the main reed beds, allowing control of water levels.
Now full zoom 600mm
Now some BIF of birds closer to me
Just in case you didn't spot the Lapwing (sorry for putting them in a gull post) but here they are
90% luck, 5% field craft, 5% camera skills.
Two postings in one day! Record.
Gulls having a spat around Tern island, Colebrook lake (north), Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve. Some time in spring.
And cropped. What an expression.
Clear off.
Those are very Good action shots
These were taken last year, sometime during the early breeding season. The subject of these photos is either a highly protective parent or completely thick. In either case, it decided to harass wildfowl peacefully swimming around its breeding area - Tern island on Cormorant lake (north), Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve.
Something is afoot. Fast moving, low flying gull, looking for trouble.
Cropping the fiend out
The fiend gets closer still, and spots its prey
Cropping out
Lines up for attack. Note Wigeon (or Pochard) to middle left of photo. Plover island in background.
Cropping out.
Banzai!
And...attack
Cropping out... crash dive
Ha, one victim down...
Disposed of that interloper
Aftermath
The wigeon resurfaces. What hit me?
I am the overlord of the lake. Bow before me! The power has got to his head.
After taking out the wigeon, gull heads south looking for another victim
And further still, in search of a suitable victim.
Ever onward
Lines up next victim
This time it was a coot that did an emergency crash dive
Having seen off intruders, our fiend returns to Tern island
And... touch down.
Clearing Tern island of vegetation is a perilous task. Volunteers are ferried out in a small boat. Three people, in said boat, and it sits very low. Water can lap over the gunwales. I only went once, and only then because sprog wanted on island.
Sorry. I missed your post on Monday cause I was out all Morning and afternoon. Nice action shots. Gulls do tend to be more aggressive and territorial and protective during breeding season. But I think the action sequences and stuff is quiet funny
It's a gull. That's about all I know about gull shaped birds. This one flew over me while I was walking back to my car on footpath between Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve and nascent Longwater Road Nature Reserve. They do that a lot, flying over the footpath gong from one reserve to the other, and I get a crick in my neck trying to photograph them as they fly over me.