SCOTTISH BIRDS Volume 43 (2)
PhotoSP
©T I spent about 20 minutes photographing this gutsy little bird, trying to get the perfect shot that captured its fearless attitude and bold personality - I think this one sums it up perfectly, what a power stance! I was lucky to have great light this evening, so I could use a high shutter speed and a low depth of field to both bring the gull into focus, while turning the milling group of swans in the background into something more abstract. Ewan Meldrum, Edinburgh, Lothian. Email: ewan.m@tuta.io Equipment used: Canon R5 camera, Canon 100–400mm mk2 lens, Manual, 1/1,000 second, ISO 160, f5.6.
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Scottish Birds June 2023
Plate 152. I was sitting in Holyrood park, enjoying the last of the day’s winter sun, watching people feed the swans and ducks while the mixed flock of gulls very noisily quarrelled for scraps. Screaming and chasing after the smallest bit of bread crust, I felt bad for the ducks who were just not quite quick enough. It wasn’t until I looked closer that I noticed this brave young Black-headed Gull very confidently running the gauntlet - jumping across the backs of this writhing mass of Mute Swans, deftly dodging the far-reaching snaps from the would-be pond dragons, and returning their threatening hisses with its own harsh little defiant yell. I was surprised to see that not only was it quite comfortable dodging and weaving, but leaping forward to snap food out of the air right in front of the bigger birds.
published by the SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
VOLU M E 43(2)
J U N E 2023