A strikingly beautiful bird, particularly in their winter plumage, their scientific name ridibundus derives from ridere - to laugh and when you hear their calls, it's not difficult to understand the derivation. This gull was being particularly cooperative in standing still long enough for me to grab a few shots.
The black head (not actually black, but a deep, chocolate brown), has gone now, leaving behind the tell-tale dark smudge behind the birds' eye. With their blood-red bill and legs and the silver-grey back feathers, this is a common bird which deserves to be better appreciated. With an over-wintering population of around 2.2 million individuals, they are always easy to find.
Handsome!
1 comment:
it's a pretty bird.
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