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Ring-billed gulls battle for the fish

July 3, 2022 by Tony Leave a Comment

Ring-billed gulls battle for the fish
A ring-billed gull chases another for a fish. (© Tony’s Takes)

I don’t normally take pics of these very common birds but sometimes they can put on a nice show. Taken back in February, a local pond was thawing out and revealing a bounty of frozen shad as it did. The area birds took notice and they were working hard at getting the fish out of the ice. When one was successful, a chase almost always ensued.

A ring-billed gull chases another for a fish. (© Tony's Takes)
A ring-billed gull chases another for a fish. (© Tony’s Takes)
A ring-billed gull tries to escape with its catch. (© Tony's Takes)
A ring-billed gull tries to escape with its catch. (© Tony’s Takes)

Gutsy gull tells bald eagle, “Get off my lawn!”

March 18, 2022 by Tony Leave a Comment

It would appear this ring-billed gull is trying to horn in on the bald eagle’s Freedom Friday. 😉

Last month I spent a number of days photographing the bird action at a pond. It was beginning to thaw and in doing so, revealing a feast of frozen fish. The gulls and crows would work hard to dig the fish out of the slush and that drew the attention of area bald eagles.

As many as 10 of the massive raptors would hang out, just waiting for their opportunity. When the smaller birds would get a fish out, the eagles would swoop in and steal the meal.

It appeared this gull decided it had enough of having its hard work stolen and when a bald eagle did a flyby, it set off in pursuit, letting the thief know it wasn’t welcome. Definitely a gutsy gull!

Ring-billed gull in hot pursuit to steal a crow’s meal

February 24, 2022 by Tony Leave a Comment

Ring-billed gull in hot pursuit to steal a crow’s meal
A ring-billed gull chases after a crow, trying to steal its meal. (© Tony’s Takes)

You spend your afternoon doing some nice, quiet ice fishing and finally get a nice little catch. As you leave to go enjoy your meal, sure enough, some other loud, obnoxious fisherman tries to assault you and steal your hard-earned dinner.

Such was the scenario played out between these two birds this past weekend. As a pond thawed, it revealed a bounty of fish for the birds. Dozens of gulls and a half dozen crows, pecked at the slush, digging out fish that had frozen over the winter.

It was a lot of fun to watch them as when one got a meal, it was sure to draw attention and soon, the chase would be on. It was very reminiscent of Finding Nemo and the gulls trying to make a meal of Nemo’s dad and Dori saying, “Mine! Mine! Mine!” 😀

A ring-billed gull chases after a crow, trying to steal its meal. (© Tony's Takes)
A ring-billed gull chases after a crow, trying to steal its meal. (© Tony’s Takes)
A ring-billed gull chases after a crow, trying to steal its meal. (© Tony's Takes)
A ring-billed gull chases after a crow, trying to steal its meal. (© Tony’s Takes)

Ring-billed gull head on

February 10, 2022 by Tony Leave a Comment

Ring-billed gull head on
A ring-billed gull flies head on. (Tony’s Takes)

A common bird we see plenty of here on the Colorado Front Range. They are kind of fun to watch although I don’t usually photograph them. This one and its friends were patrolling an open patch of water on a frozen lake recently. As they spotted something below, they would make a daring dive down to the water, hoping to come up with a little meal.

White Gull against a blue sky

March 7, 2018 by Tony Leave a Comment

I have no idea what kind of gull this is but was pretty darned persistent trying to fish a local pond. While I waited for my favorite raptors to appear, I used it for a bit of camera target practice. I loved its bright white plumage against those beautiful, deep, blue Colorado skies.

A brilliant, white Gull soars through the deep blue, Colorado skies.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A brilliant, white Gull soars through the deep blue, Colorado skies. (© Tony’s Takes)

Gull on patrol

January 30, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

Not a type of bird I would normally train my camera on but the Gulls were very active working this one small spot of open water recently and provided some good photo ops. I like this capture quite a bit as the back-lighting really gives the bird a bit of a glow to it and showcases its pretty plumage. This is a Ring-billed Gull, probably the most common type you would see here in Colorado.

A Ring-billed Gull in flight. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Ring-billed Gull in flight. (© Tony’s Takes)

Ring-billed Gull takes an early morning flight

November 16, 2016 by Tony Leave a Comment

It isn’t often that I train my camera on these common birds. They are noisy and can make quite a mess so I usually just ignore them. However on Sunday morning while out taking pictures with my son, a few came flying overhead. With the golden light of sunrise on them they looked quite beautiful and their graceful, soaring flight pattern allowed a few nice captures.

A Ring-billed Gull soars with ease as the sun rises. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Ring-billed Gull soars with ease as the sun rises. (© Tony’s Takes)

Gulls gather on a lake’s shoreline on the Colorado plains

July 19, 2015 by Tony Leave a Comment

There were dozen’s of Franklin’s Gulls at this spot this past week, something I had not noticed in previous years although I may have just not been paying attention. 😉 You can learn more about these small gulls here.

Franklin's Gulls and a lone Ring-billed Gull wade in the water at Jackson Lake State Park. (© Tony’s Takes)
Franklin’s Gulls and a lone Ring-billed Gull wade in the water at Jackson Lake State Park. (© Tony’s Takes)

Mine, mine, mine!

February 11, 2015 by Tony Leave a Comment

Ring-billed Gull pulls a fish from the ice of a pond in Colorado. I watched it peck away at the thawing ice and eventually pull a shad from it. These gulls can be found across much of North America and are the most common type of gull found in inland areas.

A Ring-Billed Gull pulls a fish from a frozen pond in Fort Collins, Colorado.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A Ring-Billed Gull pulls a fish from a frozen pond in Fort Collins, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

 

Hot pursuit!

February 4, 2015 by Tony Leave a Comment

A juvenile Bald Eagle pursues a Ring-billed Gull that had just snatched a fish from a pond. No doubt the gull was quite alarmed to look back and see this large raptor giving chase. The gull in fact dropped the fish and immediately took evasive maneuvers to escape (and was successful in doing so). Image taken this past Sunday at a pond near Denver, Colorado, USA where gulls and eagles had gathered to fish.

A juvenile Bald Eagle pursues a Ring-billed Gull.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A juvenile Bald Eagle pursues a Ring-billed Gull. (© Tony’s Takes)

 

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