As I have noted
previously I grew up in Beaumaris and spent a lot of time on the beaches at and around Ricketts Point. I was close-by late this afternoon after meetings in Melbourne so took the opportunity to avoid peak hour traffic and check out the old stamping ground. There were at least 50 Pacific Gulls on the shore between the point and the yacht club--more than I have ever seen there before--including a range of ages (just missing 4th year birds), so I decided to spend some time trying to capture a few portraits. The sky was darkening quickly with rain storms crossing the bay from the south-west, which made for some interesting low-light photography. All these shots were taken at 1/200th sec or slower.
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| Pacific Gull (adult), Ricketts Point Beaumaris |
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| Pacific Gull (3rd year immature), Ricketts Point Beaumaris |
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| Pacific Gull (2nd year immature), Ricketts Point Beaumaris |
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| Pacific Gull (1st year immature), Ricketts Point Beaumaris |
Feeding attempts were being made on some dubious morsels...this first year immature spent a long time contemplating the remains of a cuttlefish
...apparently 2nd year birds are not any smarter as this one tried for several minutes to work out (unsuccessfully) how to swallow a tennis ball carcass
There were also good opportunities for interesting flight shots (low light always makes it a challenge but sometimes the results are quite pleasing)
...if not downright humourous
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| Pacific Gull (1st year immature), Ricketts Point Beaumaris |
A pair of Australian Pelicans eventually broke up the party
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| Australian Pelican, Pacific Gull, Silver Gull, Ricketts Point Beaumaris |
so I headed back to the point to get a shot or two of the sun setting
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| Ricketts Point, Beaumaris |
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