Originally published on Photoblog by Gethin Thomas NOVEMBER. 25, 2020
[112-365] 25th. November 2020- Now that I have got familiar with my camera doing basic stuff, I am exploring it's complexities a bit more. I am lucky having the creek nearby so I can sit for a while and play with settings while the birdlife gets used to me being there. I've noticed that most of the birds are not at all bothered by traffic, but people make them nervous.
This gull sat on the bridge for ages, and the bridge is quite narrow, so all manner of vehicles were passing behind it, quite noisy and very close, some just inches away. But if I took a step closer it sidled along the wall ever so slightly, keeping a fixed distance.
I am so glad I changed cameras this year, because I had to hold the camera still and focused for maybe 10 to 15 minutes to catch this gull diving off the bridge. I knew it would go, it was just a matter of when. I had it set on slow repeat, which I thought was quite fast, but it was a mistake because the second shot was half out of frame. They are quicker than you think. Next time I will try rapid fire.
This is a Black Headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus with winter plumage. In summer they have a distinctive full dark brown but black looking cap. They are migratory but the lazy ones who can't be bothered to fly south find mild little spots in Westernmost Europe, like the creek to hang around for the winter.
The genus name Chroicocephalus is from Ancient Greek khroizo, "to colour", and kephale, "head". The specific ridibundus is Latin for "laughing", from ridere "to laugh". (Wikipedia)
Comments