Ring-billed Gull with snow on its bill – Nikon D500, f9, 1/2000, ISO 320, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
During the winter I am able to get close up portraits of the gulls that visit my local pond by staying in a vehicle and using it as a mobile blind and for me that is thrilling because I rarely get close up photo of gulls at any other time of the year. It has been nearly two years since I took this photo so I don’t recall if this Ring-billed Gull was calling or if it just opened its bill because another gull got too close to this one but I liked the open bill against the out of focus, icy blue water of the pond.
I’m not sure how this Ring-bill Gull got the snow on its bill but when I looked through my viewfinder I liked all of fine details I had in the snow, the bill and the white plumage of the gull and I felt I had to take photos of it. This photo also shows the ring around the bill that gave this species its name plus the orange colored gape that turns to red during the breeding season. Those snowflakes on the on the bill really draw my eyes to this Ring-billed Gull portrait.
There are times when I share photos of gulls that I feel the need to defend them because there are so many people that dislike or even hate gulls when personally I find them just as beautiful and fascinating as any other of the bird species I photograph. Perhaps I should try to stop feeling that way and just let my photos of their beauty speak for themselves.
The radar/satellite looks promising this morning so maybe I will be able to get out into the field to look for some birds today!
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Ring-billed Gull photos plus facts and information about this species.
Beautiful image!
Glorious portrait.
Great pic! Vermeer could not have done it better. Thanks Mia.
Beautiful portrait!