Great Black-backed Gull with Skimmer chick ~ Nickerson Beach, NY
An overcast morning, I wanted my image to reflect that so I didn’t juice up the contrast very much
The gull image above is not my kind of image and I usually don’t take images like this but the young skimmer above was already a pile of feathers by the time I got to the scene. I have seen gulls grabbing chicks and it’s brutal to watch. I have also watched as young chicks that wander off get pecked to death by their own kind. I have always told myself that I would let nature be and never let my emotions or feelings get in the way of the natural cycle of life while photographing but I am guilty of screaming nooooooooo a couple of times. I know that gulls have to eat too but it is very hard to watch. If the chick in this image were still alive when I got there I could not have photographed this. One thing that I did observe while photographing this image is that the adult shown above kept walking the dead chick back and forth by the juvenile gulls that were patiently waiting their turn. It was as if the adult were taunting them. Every once in a while one of the juveniles would try to grab a bite and the adult would violently attack it.
Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull ~ Nickerson Beach, NY
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE A LARGER VERSION
Lesser Black-backed Gull ~ Nickerson Beach, NY
2nd year Herring Gull ~ Nickerson Beach, NY
Denise, this looks like a room in a video game that one would want to find a way out of. I like the contrasting emotion of warm tones vs. cool reality. Nicely done friend.
Thanks Debra, I appreciate it.
denise
You’re a creative and sensitive woman. I react the same way when I see brutality in Nature.
Richard, I know, sometimes it’s hard to see the things we come into contact with out in the field.
denise
I hear ya, Denise. Sometimes nature is really cruel.
Cynthia, It’s hard to watch sometimes but I do see the other side. It’s survival…
denise
Denise, great images! The first one is my favorite. Although gruesome it clearly illustrates the dangers that the skimmer chicks face. Glad you captured it!
Thanks Andrew, I appreciate it!
denise
Good job on the gull IDs. When I see a gull eating a chick I have a party
. Black-backeds are killer predators. I once saw one grab a White-winged Scoter by the neck and drown it, take a Glossy Ibis out of the sky, and grab a sleeping juvie skimmer by the neck which it snapped in .0003 seconds. I admire them for their dining habits which includes anything including all types of garbage. Yummy.
Artie, Thanks for your help that day with the ID”s. There sure were lots of different ones there. I don’t like to see that other stuff…
denise
Beautiful images as usual Denise. I agree I don’t think I would be able to watch and I applaud you for only screaming “noooo” a few times. I’d probably run right up and chase the gulls away arms flapping and all.
Edith, I know it’s hard but I try to remember that they have young to feed too and they are only doing what is natural. It is hard at times.
denise
Nice shots, Denise. Nature takes it’s course in that first one and while it may not be an image we generally like to see, it is the order of things in the wild.
I really like that 3rd shot as the Gull almost seems to be posing for you.
Thanks Jimi, very well said!
denise
Always love wild life! Nice shots!
I like the last one! I feel the bird is looking at me.
Thanks for commenting.
denise
I especially like the last image, with the wonderful lines and that one eye.
Thanks Anita, I appreciate the comments.
denise