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Psilos Bird Photography |
Black headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) |
A very common and widespread gull found
mainly inland. They are sociable, quarrelsome, noisy birds, usually
seen in small groups or flocks, often gathering into larger parties
where there is plenty of food, or when they are roosting. Breeding takes
place on coastal marshes, freshwater marshes, gravel pits, lakes and
moorland pools. In summer they have a black head though up close the
colour is actually dark brown. |
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The photo above shows an adult Black headed
Gull in summer breeding plumage. The photo below shows the adult in
winter plumage. |
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and a juvenile in winter plumage..... |
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During the summer the gulls pair up for
nesting. The pair below I had watched gathering and taking nesting material
to build a nest. When the nest was finished, they then mated and sat
in companionable silence for quite some minutes. This is quite a different
image to the noisy, quarrelsome gulls that we are used to seeing. |
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