Ducking or Begging or Both?

[Arthur Morris]

This image was created on Thursday, August 16 at Nickerson Beach. I used the Induro GIT 304L/Mongoose M3.6-mounted Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens, the Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II, and the mega mega-pixel Nikon D850 DSLR.. ISO 400. Matrix metering +2/3 stop: 1/400 sec. at f/10 in Manual mode. AUTO1 WB at 7:13am on a partly cloudy very bright morning. One AF point below the center AF point d-9/Shutter Button/Continuous (AI Servo in Canon) AF was active at the moment of exposure. The selected AF point was squarely on the chick’s cace. Phase detection AF Fine-tune value: +1. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here.

Learn more and see my students image in the It's Not Too Late! If I’ve Heard It Once I’ve Heard it 1,000 Times. The Advantages of Standing. An Intimate Perspective from On High. And Some Nasty Post-processing Questions blog post here.
As for the image, don't be shy; all comments are welcome and appreciated.

Do you see any evidence of Photoshop hanky panky here?

with love, artie

ps: if you'd like to join me for a skimmer session or two on Long Island in the next week see the schedule here.

[Isaac Grant]

Great action here Artie. Love the ominous wing of the Great Blacked Back Gull.

[John Mack]

Both? I'm not sure. Like the low angle and the sand flying around the bird. The composition works well. The open mouth is pretty neat.

[annmpacheco]

Mixed bag for the little one, be careful what you ask for! Like the hint of wing and the flying sand as the chick takes cover. terrific behavioral shot.

[Arthur Morris]

Great action here Artie. Love the ominous wing of the Great Blacked Back Gull.

It was actually the ominous wing of an adult skimmer :)

with love, artie

[Arthur Morris]

Both? I'm not sure. Like the low angle and the sand flying around the bird. The composition works well. The open mouth is pretty neat.

Thanks. John. Both what?

with love, artie

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Artie, excellent sharp detail and spot on focus on the chick's open beak, and the flying sands adds interest. The wing of the Skimmer balances the comp nicely.

[Isaac Grant]

Ha! That's what I get for viewing quickly on the phone and commenting.

[Dorian Anderson]

Yes interesting shot for sure! Chick's perceived reaction completely dependent on how incoming bird is identified! Wide white trailing edge
screamed skimmer to me, but I could totally see how some might think it was a GBBG (and hence doomsday for this chick).

[Arthur Morris]

Yes interesting shot for sure! Chick's perceived reaction completely dependent on how incoming bird is identified! Wide white trailing edge
screamed skimmer to me, but I could totally see how some might think it was a GBBG (and hence doomsday for this chick).

Thanks for commenting Dorian. But, it does not matter if the wing belonged to a (predatory) gull or an adult skimmer. Why? Adult skimmers routinely attack and even kill small and medium-sized chicks from nests other than their own. In fact, the adult skimmer in this case was attacking the chick. And the chicks know it.

The image posted here is not sharp --too much motion blur at 1/500 sec. -- but it does prove my point. It was created the day after the posted image.

with love, artie