Thursday, May 16, 2013

Could it be.....?


Have I mentioned  lately how much I love my new camera :) the zoom lens is fabulosa! Oh and also these photos are SOC the sky really was that blue, the only reason I can think of for the variance in the blue is directional. I was so excited to see this unusual bird. At first high on a lamp post, then swooping over my head landing on a roof to drink water out of the gutter, was even more excited that I had my zoom lens in my bag. When checking my bird guide later, from the pictures I was pretty sure it was an immature Black Tailed Gull, the red tip and black ring around the bill and white crescents around the eyes (which turn paler as it gets older) seemed pretty convincing to me. I know there are some brilliant birders out there, Chris and Andrew come to mind but there are many more of you. I've been told it's a Pacific Gull, but am not convinced, what do you think? Can it be a Black Tailed Gull just because I want it to be haha! Exciting stuff! Hope your Thursday is a good one, take care and stay safe.....

41 comments:

  1. Wow, Grace, that is a fabulous lens. These are fantastic shots; so clear and sharp and with such fantastic color. I'll have to leave the bird identification to ones better at it than me.

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  2. You are getting some great results with your new toy!!! Nice captures!!!

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  3. You've made him a star! Such clear pics.

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  4. These are fantastic, Grace!! You've made him a star indeed! Your new camera is awesome!! Isn't it fun to have a new toy!!!! Keep those pics coming! I love them!!

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  5. These shots are brilliant! I love the clarity of your new lens and camera. Beautiful rich blues and detail on that fella:) He's a handsome one for sure!

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  6. What a fabulous zoom! and what an interesting bird!

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  7. What a beautiful series, especially the 1st portrait is fabulous!!!

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  8. Do not know what type of gull is ... but it's beautiful.
    Hugs and kisses.

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  9. Great, great shots, Grace! My "good" cam can do such amazing things, too - just... the flash works only when it "wants" to. Never buy a cheapy, I now know this...
    Yep, the bird look like a Teeny, for sure :-)
    Cute!
    Now I go read a book on the swing, hopefully find some decent sleep and start into a great Thursday!

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  10. That is awesome!!! You are going to have so much fun with that lens. I just got one similar and it has made my job so much easier now. There are still some tricks but it's not as time consuming now that the focus is all even:) So......let's break this bird down. I know how much you want it be one bird. Sometimes I try to convince myself it's "the bird." Let me take a look:)

    The eye. It's dark. There also isn't an eye ring. It does have a dark back with yellow legs. But the trick with gulls is all about the bill!!! This has a red tip followed by black and then yellow. The bill is also oddly shaped.......I think this looks like a......drum rolls.....

    Pacfic Gull, immature:)I have never seen either so take my opinion for what it's worth:) It's so much fun though....and ID's take the most time, don't they?:) But it's why I love the game. Have a great Thursday and congrats on your find!

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  11. What a beautiful photos Grace. You see them so close by.

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  12. Don't leave home without your zoom lens.

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  13. Quite an impressive closeup, that first one!

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  14. So close! I am gobsmacked. I have a modest telephoto zoom lens. Maybe it is time to dust it off.

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  15. Hi Grace, I'm still saving up for a nice telephoto lens so I can snap lovely pictures like these!

    Duncan in Kuantan
    Kuantan nature photos

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  16. pics are fab..especially the zoom shots...me needs to get a zoom lens soon :)

    http://www.myunfinishedlife.com

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  17. They are fab shots Grace. The sky is impossibly blue. I think it's a greater Gracie gull.

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  18. You will become quite the portraitist! :-)

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  19. Fabulosa photos Grace. Brilliant colour and clarity. That immature gull has its eye on you and is squawking "my right profile is the best"!

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  20. "I was pretty sure it was an immature Black Tailed Gull"

    Was it calling out silly sqwaks at you? That's the clincher... because they are just soooo immature.

    (With apologies for my own immature "humour"... awesome photo)

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  21. Lovely- makes me realise how I'd need a "proper" camera to ever get close to wildlife!

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  22. That close up is pretty awesome. The ultimate gift for twitchers, perhaps, would be a book full of photos of birds [as fantastic as the photo above] with a blank space for the twitcher to fill in the gaps.

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  23. Perfect close ups, I'm enchanted by these lovely pictures!
    Léia

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  24. wow, the pictures are so crisp! awesome!

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  25. Love the new update to the blog and the crazy awesome photos. Glad I took the time to take a look. Sorry I've been away so long.

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  26. Wow - love the detail and clarity of your shots! Awesome.

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  27. He was obviously ready for his closeup!

    Beautiful photos...I love anything with birds!

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  28. What a fantastic close-up, Grace! We have lots os them here too, but I don't know much about the diferent species.

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  29. Goodness me, FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!

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  30. I've been off for awhile and now I come back and find you've gone to the birds! Sheesh!

    Tell you what, though - perhaps you should start a new career as a bird photographer! These shots are quite spectacular. What kind of camera did you get again?

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  31. Wish I knew more about Australian birds but I am just learning the ones we have in Canada! :))

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  32. Clearly posing for you - fabulous.

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