Monday, June 1, 2009

Second gull of summer


RING-BILLED GULL (LARUS DELAWARENSIS), GREEN, MICHIGAN, MAY 29, 2009

Pentax K10D
Sigma APO 135-400 at 400mm
1/1000 sec. f11
ISO 400

Smaller than the herring gull below, the ring-billed variety can be identified by the dark marking for which it is named. Note the high aspect ratio of its long, long wings and the complete concealment of its landing gear; both are keen aerodynamic features that help enable the bird to soar for long periods, like a U-2 spy plane.

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