Gentle Landing

There are thousands of various gull type birds around Valdez, Alaska when the salmon are running.  Despite their commonality, they can still be very beautiful birds.  This Black Legged Kittiwake had been dipping for salmon scraps and was hovering just above the water.  I caught it just as it gently settled in.  I didn't notice the little drip of water falling off it's beak until I saw it on the computer. 

Sony ILCE-6000 (a6000), SEL-55210 @ 177 mm (265 mm equiv.), ISO-100, f6.3, 1/4000, slight crop for composition.

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