Marauding Herring Gull

Gallery: AvianPosted January 19, 2010143 views16 comments

Taken on the Farne Islands North Northumberland UK in June

The herring gull was cruising the guillemot colonies, I heard the distress calls of the guillemots as the gull passed the colony. It did three tours of the colony before making its move.

After the first pass I was watching the gull as it came around half expecting it to attack, when it made the third pass it dropped into the guillemot colony I was ready for it and got the picture.

I like the image of guillemots looking up at the marauding bird carrying the chick away (perhaps like is the wrong word)

ISO 100, f5, 1/2000sec, canon 300mm lens

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Sally King on January 19, 2010 at 8:01 PM

Wow. It's amazing and heartbreaking. I know the gull has to eat but I feel for the guillemots. This is quite an exceptional catch. Well done.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 19, 2010 at 8:01 PM

In addition to the obvious amazing action here-excellent handling of the whites and blacks without losing definition of either. I really like just seeing the heads of the guillemots anchoring the photo.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 19, 2010 at 8:03 PM

I like how you basically just got the heads of the guillemots all looking up concerned - wondering if it's their newborn and how the gull is outstretched. A very compelling image, and perfect exposure

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Gaurav Manglik on January 19, 2010 at 9:11 PM

awesome image. I wonder if I would have liked to see a bit more of the guillemots. An excellent image nevertheless.

Registered on December 2, 2005, 191 Posts, 2126 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on January 19, 2010 at 10:02 PM

Excellent behavior shot, Ron. The Guillemot heads looking up along the bottom are great.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on January 19, 2010 at 10:47 PM

This is beautifully done! I like the composition.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Wilson on January 20, 2010 at 4:30 AM

This really tells a story! I would have liked to see a little more of the Guillemots and it looks a little over-sharpened for my taste. The dynamic pose of the gull with clouds in the sky works well - I like it a lot!

Registered on May 17, 2006, 70 Posts, 1166 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on January 20, 2010 at 10:51 AM

Terrific shot! I LOVE The copmosition, with all the guillemots looking up helplessly. Terrific job!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 20, 2010 at 11:23 AM

Wonderful action, Ron. I like the composition and it looks like the exposure is excellent.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on January 20, 2010 at 12:59 PM

This is a terrific behavioural image. Very interesting and well composed.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 20, 2010 at 2:38 PM

Most intersting natural history well captured. The gull is technically spot-on, and the guillemots heads add context.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Douglas Graham on January 21, 2010 at 8:54 AM

Photojournalist call it the decisive moment and that it is. Well done.

Registered on May 14, 2009, 123 Posts, 522 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on January 21, 2010 at 12:12 PM

What a moment. Nice composition which really tells a story. Glad the preparation paid off.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 21, 2010 at 2:21 PM

Very interesting nature shot, really tells a story of survival (or not surviving) , well done.