Laughing Gulls Pre Mating Ritual

[Jim Fenton]

Female laughing Gulls always get a "gift" just prior to mating and if they accept it, things proceed.

The female pecks at the males beak and sticks her head in to get the offering. Typically I've seen it be a glob of stringy unidentifiable (to me anyway) green gunk...this time it's a pointy headed fish.

Image created just after dawn in Plymouth, Ma.

Nikon D300s, 600VR, TC14EII, ISO 500, f 7.1, 1/1250, NearUniWB, CW metering, +.3 EV

[Fabs Forns]

OMG!!!! This is so cool, Jim, never seen one courtship showing the gift as well as this one here!!!
Beautiful light and EXP to boot too!

[Ilija Dukovski]

That's a great one. The comp is just perfect with great eye contact with the "giver".
I like the color tones here with dominant gray and the reds standing out nicely.
The excellent texture of the sand is a plus.

[Danny J Brown]

Man Jim, this a a real winner. Not only did you catch the action but the photo is razor sharp with great color and exposure. I love the bokeh, fore and aft. Also, pretty neat the way the red stripe goes through the eye. I didn't even notice that on my LG photos from the gulf.

Later - DB

[Steve Canuel]

Nice image Jim. Great light, colors, and eye contact (including the fish!)

[Michael Zajac]

Fantastic behavior shot. Strong image with great details and exposure. I might like to see the heads a point blacker.

[Jim Fenton]

The thing about Laughing Gull heads is that they only appear black..but they are really not, especially in subdued lighting.

I've sat in a Laughing Gull breeding colony for many hours last year and most of the time they look black as can be...till the light goes down.

[allanrube]

+1 to what Llija and Danny said.

[John Chardine]

Very nice to see Jim. This is called "Courtship feeding" and has more than ritual value. Studies have shown that the male contributes a significant amount of the nutrients needed by the female to produce their clutch of eggs. All gulls and terns I know of courtship feed and it is seen in other avian groups as well.

[John Ippolito]

This is an outstanding image in it's detail, composition, and behavior captured. DOF perfect, and fore and background are very nice also. Lovely in all respects. Very well done.

[Don Hamilton Jr.]

Frame it, and enter it!!!! Sweet, way to go!! Love
everything about it!
Don

[arash_hazeghi]

This is excellent Jim, awesome interaction. Hats off, way cool!