Bonaparte's Gull

[David Salem]

Another shot from last years quick migration stop at my local wildlife refuge. One day they showed up, about 50 of them, eating flying insects like crazy over a pond, and week and a half later and there wasnt a one left.
I had a great time in the evenings trying to get flight shots of these little speedsters. If you have never seen a Bonaparte's flying around a pond, you would swear they are some kind of a Tern, fast and maneuverable.

1DMKIV---700mm---f5.6---ss1/3200---ISO500---HH@6:45 pm---25% crop

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. Appreciated.

David

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

What a pretty gull. I love the wings and the detail you captured David.

[Bill Dix]

Yes, these are fast little gulls, and beautiful ones. I love the dorsal view with great detail. Well exposed. In a perfect world he might have been angled just slightly more toward you. But lovely just as presented.

[jack williamson]

That is a beautiful bird and image David. The bg is wonderful with this.

Jack

[Shawn Zierman]

Awesome flight image of this species in non breeding plumage. Actually, the topside view is striking in this plumage. The background makes the image special imo. Exposure is spot on and the subject is plenty sharp. I agree with your characterization of the bird...very agile. I also love their calls :)

[David Salem]

Thanks for the comments everyone.
As Shawn mentioned, and I forgot to, this is a Gull in non-breeding plumage. We dont get them as breeding adults in my are. The adults are cool looking with a black head.
Thanks

[Frank Schauf]

Really nice flight shot and great details.

[Greg Oakley]

Stunning flight image with excellent detail and wing position, David

[MohsenVahedipour]

Excellent pose, wing position, light, IQ & BG.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I love Bonaparte's Gulls, they are so strikingly marked on the wings as your image perfectly demonstrates. Beautiful BG and the light quality is very nice. Yes, a better HA would have been a bonus but I'd take this in a heartbeat!

[Girish Prahalad]

this is superb David. excellent dorsal view with great exp & details. love that BG.

[Markus Jais]

Wonderful flight shot. Beautiful light and BG. The wing position wonderful in this picture.

Markus

[Stu Bowie]

Hi David, excellent dorsal view which shows up the feather detail and colours very well. The light is soft, exposure spot on, and the BG works well what looks like a water BG.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the wing position, details, exposure and sweet BG. Excellent image David!

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent topside view with great details and sharpness!

[Satish Ranadive]

Fabulous image.I like the way it pops up against BG,nice lights and composition.
Love the wing position, great details and HA.

Regards,
Satish.

[gail bisson]

What's not to like?
Great dorsal view and IQ,
gail

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone for the comments. Appreciated.