This first-winter, second-calendar year Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides showed itself beautifully this morning at the beach of Katwijk aan Zee.
It was present among thousands of gulls and hundreds of Sanderlings Calidris alba feeding along the water edge.
I spent about an hour with this beautiful bird, trying out different compositions and using the surrounding birds for depth. This resulted in this rather large set of photos.
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull with Sanderlings. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull with Sanderlings. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull with Sanderlings. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull with 1st-winter Herring Gulls (full left and full right) and Black-headed Gulls. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull with Black-headed Gulls. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull with Black-headed Gull, Sanderlings and Herring Gulls. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull, long-calling. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull, standing out between surrounding Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
Flight shots
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
Second-calendar year Iceland Gull. Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 18 January 2014.
I have not had the chance to get out and look at gulls much this winter. A long series like this is therefore quite a pleasure. It is also a species unfamiliar to me, so I actually learning something.