Gull with Puffer Fish

[Stu Bowie]

During my weekend at the coast, I saw this juvie Kelp Gull sweep down next to the waters edge, and pick up something in his beak. Examining it on the camera screen, I couldnt figure out what it was. After downloading it, I still wasnt sure until I looked on the internet, as I had a feeling it was a puffer fish, which confirmed the catch. Hopefully adding a bit of interest other than a boring gull image.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 400mm
1/3200
F/5.6
ISO 400

Exp Comp +0.33
Hand held

[Kiran Poonacha]

lovely one Stuart, the light and two tone BG add well to this, loved the wing spread and puffer is a bonus indeed.. congrats...

[Joe Senzatimore]

Wonderful image all around. Behavior only adds to a great one. Super job on exposure.

[Mital Patel]

In my opinion i would call this a perfectionist work stuart. Huge congrats on this one. The bg you align with bird is just too good. and the sharpness and focus is at its best along with the light.

[Krijn Trimbos]

Good flight angle, nice exposure and eye contact. The prey item is fantastic. The horizon line intersecting with the head is a bit unfortunate as is the wing position IMHO. Otherwise a great shot!

[Aidan Briggs]

Hey Stuart. Nice light, HA, and wing position. Love that puffer fish. I;m not a fan of the horizon line here. Looks like there is evidence of PS work on the wingtip?

Keep 'em coming!

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a lot guys.

Aidan, thanks for picking up the wing tip. I processed this a little while back, and when I looked at the RAW file, I see I had extended the canvas on top, which I appologise for not remembering, thus spilling some sky onto the wing tip. Sloppy.

[Connie Mier]

This is great, excellent capture. I don't mind the 2 toned bg, but I think this would really pop with just the dark blue all around it.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Great catch bro. I like the horizon placement and the wing pose. How it lifted the fishis baffling as it swells by sucking in water. Not sure what it would do with the fish either as that group of particular species are generally very poisonous to eat, at least for humans. The fish are considered a delicacy in Japan, where specialized chefs prepare them for consumption, yet people die every year as the chefs do get it wrong. :D Perhaps the gull or birds in general are capable of managing the toxins. Maybe Mr Chardine can shed some light. I will also research on my end and report back. :)

[John Chardine]

I assume all puffer fish are poisonous, in which case I expect the life of this young gull to come to an abrupt end if he ends up eating the poisonous parts of the fish.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Stu,
Can you e-mail me a large crop showing the fish? I want to get it identified. A bit hard from this size. Also, John is correct. Since this is a juvenile, chances are it may have a bite or at least try to and then pay the price if it eats anywhere near the poison glands. :(

[Gerrie van Vuuren]

Great image Stu! Like the pose, detail, colours & HA. Catch a bonus. WD!

[Dave Barnes]

Birds pops well from the blue BG and the catch a big bonus.
Good feather detail and colour.
I like the comp.
Agree that the horizon could be in a better position, and that you were sloppy with your canvas extension.;)

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all so much for the great interest and feedback on this image. I appreciate it.

[John Chardine]

See also:

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...864#post326864

[John Chardine]

BTW Stuart- what species of gull is it? I'm not up on my SA first-year gulls.

[Tony Whitehead]

BTW Stuart- what species of gull is it? I'm not up on my SA first-year gulls.

Kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), John.
I think these puffers can blow themselves up with air as I remember catching them as a kid and they would only puff up out of the water and definitely weren't as heavy as if they had puffed with water.
Fascinating shot, Stuart.

[John Chardine]

Kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), John.
I think these puffers can blow themselves up with air as I remember catching them as a kid and they would only puff up out of the water and definitely weren't as heavy as if they had puffed with water.
Fascinating shot, Stuart.

Thanks Tony and Stuart. Of course Stuart mentioned the species and I proceeded not to see it! As you get older I think two skills you develop are selective vision and selective hearing, at least that's what my wife tells me!

[Tony Whitehead]

T As you get older I think two skills you develop are selective vision and selective hearing, at least that's what my wife tells me!

Sounds familiar!!!:D:D

[Stu Bowie]

Cheers Tony. I appreciate your input.

[Harshad Barve]

This is amazing capture Stuart
TFS