Proud Gull with starfish.
I am going with juvenile California Gull but will stand corrected..
D500, 500pf, f5.6, 1/3200, iso160
DSC_8817tk.jpg
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Proud Gull with starfish.
I am going with juvenile California Gull but will stand corrected..
D500, 500pf, f5.6, 1/3200, iso160
DSC_8817tk.jpg
I love this frame - all because of the super sharp and beautifully colored starfish. The falling water drop is a nice addition. Details and exposure across bird look great. A bit more room in front would be nice if you have it.
As for the ID, this is a Western Gull, probably a 3rd cycle coming into full adult plumage. Western is bigger and bulkier than California and shows pink legs, a feature the later never displays. Western Gull ID is complicated by two factors 1) The mantle (back) color follows a North-South gradient with birds up your way being much lighter than birds in Southern California, for example 2) This species freely hybridizes with Glaucous-winged Gull, another PNW species. Those hybrids are called Olympic Gulls and show features of both species. So yeah, gull identification is as hard as it gets. Many books are explicitly devoted to the challenge.
Love this shot Dan! That starfish steals the show here. Agree with Dorian's suggestion of more room to the left. Great job!
I echo the previous comments. Great to see something different...the starfish makes this image. Exposure and clarity are spot on, with very good FFD. TFS
Excellent Dan, nicely presented, just maybe a little more canvas top and left otherwise super!
Love it. Great shot of the gull, with nice head turn. But the starfish steals the show.
This is absolutely excellent Dan!
Love the light and the exposure and that starfish is the real "star" (pun intended!).
Gail
Looks spot on to me. Nice one.
It's a terrific frame, and Dorian's ID help is much appreciated. About the only thing I would change is that I'd bring the whites up a bit; they look a little too gray as posted.
Alas, only on the West Coast ... Love the perfect head turn and of course, the starfish angle! Good on Dorian with the ID stuff and yes to thrid year Western Gull. Where exactly?
The wavelet that intersects with the belly bugs me.
with love, a
