Black & White Wednesday

This weeks black & white image was taken on the shore of Strangford Lough in County Down in Northern Ireland. The photograph shows a Black Headed gull drinking from a small river that flows into the lough. The gull is in its summer plumage where the head is a dark brown to black colour with a white ring around part of the eye.

Black headed gull, summer plumage. ( Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

Camera: Nikon D7200

Lens: Sigma 150 – 600 mm telephoto lens

metadata: f 7.1 at 1/800 sec: ISO 250

edited in Lightroom and finished in Nik Silver efex pro 2

Thank you for visiting and please comment.

George..

Seals, seabirds and other coastal things.

So I’ve been a little quiet on the blog, I’ve been busy moving to my new place to live. So for the first in a month I had a few hours to spare and it being a beautiful autumn day here I took a drive to the County Down coast. A few gentle walks and just parking up in other spots, it was an easy day. Chatted to a couple of other photographers and those just out for a stroll. So a few photos from today, Think the title might give a clue…

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Grey Heron (  Ardea cinerea )

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A Curlew (  Scolopacidae ) I spooked from its resting place.

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Black headed gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) in winter plumage.

 

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In full song a Robin (  Erithacus rubecula )

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A couple of Cormorants ( Phalacrocoracidae )

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Not a 100 percent but I think this is called a Skiff. So if any person knows what they are could you let me know. Check this link

 

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The Grey Seal (  Halichoerus grypus ) and they are not all grey in colour.

 

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Heading back towards Strangford.

Next a few shots of the Little Egret (  Egretta garzetta )

 

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these birds flying in the photo’s are Lapwings (  Vanellinae )

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Peace at last..

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Unless he know’s different..

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Don’t like the look of him..

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So like my flying friend it’s time to go, hope you enjoyed the day out and you will join me another time. Thank you and take care.

George.

 

Wings

With the odd storm moving across the country the gulls drop back into the sheltered waters of the lakes and parks inland. Passing Hillsborough forest park I stopped for a walk around the lake. The swans and various ducks where there along with a large group off Blacked Headed Gulls. It is these I shot in the following photographs. When people stop to feed the ducks the gulls head in mass for a free meal. I could watch the flight for hours has these birds come in like fighter pilot’s across the water. Some seem to hang in the air before dropping into the water after the food. Has a flying display they are great to watch and I still don’t know how they avoid each other in the mayhem of what seems to be chaos.

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All these shots where taken with a 70 – 300 zoom on a bright overcast day  at ISO 400.

Thank you for viewing.