Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: 1st Winter Iceland (?) Gull

  1. #1
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Nova Scotia, Canada
    Posts
    1,065
    Threads
    347
    Thank You Posts

    Default 1st Winter Iceland (?) Gull

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    The bill suggests Iceland, but the overall bulk,, shape, and apparent total lack of gray on the primaries are more suggestive of Glaucous - both occur here. Both should also have pink legs, although that could be a trick of the light .......

    D7000, 300 f/4 AF-S. 1.7TC, hand-held. ISO 1000, 1/1250, f/6.7. Small crop, selective sharpening on the bird, nr and Gaussian blur on the bg, which was the muddy river bank.

    Thanks for any comments, Richard

  2. #2
    BPN Viewer Dave Leroy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Delta, BC
    Posts
    3,789
    Threads
    380
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Interesting gliding like pose. I like the nice fanned tail and looks good and sharp.

    Sorry can'[t help at all with ID. I might also touch up the catch light to make it more visible.

  3. #3
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Young Glaucous Gulls should have bi-colored bills that are pink at the base with dark tips... Other than that I am not sure of anything...
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  4. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Geldern, Germany
    Posts
    3,557
    Threads
    216
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Really nice flight shot and great details.

  5. #5
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    El Paso, TX USA
    Posts
    3,456
    Threads
    162
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Real nice shot. Love the fanned tail, exposed very well, and great detail.
    Well done.

  6. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Green Lane, PA
    Posts
    744
    Threads
    42
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    In addition to the bill color pointed out by Artie, it is evenly shaped without a stronger bulge at the end. This is better for Iceland. Glaucous also tends to show a proportionally smaller eye set farther forward, and less of a banded tail look. I like the pose a lot, but the grayish markings look a bit odd to me. I normally expect them to be more tan or brown, but then our Iceland/Kumlien's Gulls here in North America are all over the map in how they look.

  7. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    23,119
    Threads
    1,523
    Thank You Posts
    Blog Entries
    55

    Default

    The ID info drew me into this thread. Very interesting. Nice capture Richard. There is a large dark outline around the top of the head and other areas around the bird.

  8. #8
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Nova Scotia, Canada
    Posts
    1,065
    Threads
    347
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi,

    I agree with Artie and Paul, and a couple of gull experts I showed this too, and it's clearly an Iceland gull, although perhaps rather a chunky one at the instant I pressed the shutter. The leg color could be due to shadowing, or it could have been wading in the mud before it flew. Denise - I could only see the outline you mention by looking very carefully and with hindsight, but I agree - it's almost certainly where I blurred the bg but didn't quite get right up to the edge of the bird - I should stop being lazy and use Artie's masking techniques better! Thanks for the comments,

    Richard

  9. #9
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Green Lane, PA
    Posts
    744
    Threads
    42
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    One thing to remember about gull size, general shape, and bill shape is that there can be significant differences between males and females. My guess is that this would be a male simply because it looks so big.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics