Figure 1 – Great black-backed gull, Crane Beach, MA. (c) DE Wolf 2019.

Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous trip to Crane Beach. Crane Beach is spectacular anytime of year, but particularly gorgeous in October, when the crowds of beach goers are gone for the season and you can more quietly reflect on the sea, the surf, and the birds. I took figure 1 of a great black-backed gull, Larus marinus. The great part refers to the fact that this is the largest species of gull in the world. Typical wingspans are five to five and a half feet! The black-backed part is, well, that is kind of obvious.

This fellow is delighted to have grabbed a tasty clam from the receding tidewaters. Now to crack it open, simply done by flying high and dropping it on a rock.

Canon T2i with EF 70-200 mm Lf/4 USM lens at mm, ISO 400, AE Priority Mode 1/1000th sec at f/7.1 with no exposure compensation, and I got away with pattern focusing.