Owing to my half-hearted pursuit of rarer wings, I find myself returning—again and again—to the incidental sovereigns of the shoreline: the gulls. They require no pilgrimage, no whispered coordinates, no patient staking out of reed beds at dawn. They are simply there—abundant, unapologetic, prevailing.
Along the coast, gulls stitch the horizon together. They stand like punctuation marks on pylons, patrol the tideline with bureaucratic diligence, and lift in sudden white gusts when the wind shifts its mind. While I may have failed to chase the elusive heron or the shy tern, the gulls present themselves with democratic generosity—every outing a parliament of pale feathers and sharp eyes.
They dominate the littoral theatre. Where there is tide, there are gulls. Where there is trawler wake, there are gulls. Where there is salt on air and chips in hand, there are certainly gulls. Their prevalence is not mere presence but occupation—an ecological tenancy secured by adaptability and audacity.
So my coastal portfolio, sparse in exotic rarity, fills instead with these commonplace mariners. Incidental, perhaps—but never absent.
Sony A7RV
FE 70-200mm f4 G
Linking Saturday Critter

They're everywhere, and they like fries. 😁
ReplyDeleteI love what you say about gulls. They ARE there -- certainly at my lake. And I love seeing them, though fewer than when we were young. This is another lovely image.
ReplyDeleteGulls are bold and cunning, masters of their world.
ReplyDelete...gulls seem to have found a home just about everywhere.
ReplyDeleteHe looks like he is standing there enjoying looking at the waves. I love your thought on how they patrol the tideline. Perfectly composed photo; water on the upper part, sand on the bottom with the single gull separating the two. Unusual to see only one!
ReplyDeleteRealment són per tot arreu. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSalutacions!
Your description of the seagulls is vivid and poetic, they really do feel like the lively rulers of the shoreline.
ReplyDeleteParece estar mirando como vienen las olas con apacible semblante.
ReplyDeleteSaludos.
Seagull and sea a good partnership for your photograph.
ReplyDeleteHappy Saturday and Happy weekend.
All the best Jan
I like the gulls. They make no apology for their behavior. They treat us as equals.
ReplyDeleteUna bella y delicada imagen, amigo
ReplyDeleteI like the way you describe the seagulls. :) Well done and a lovely shot.
ReplyDeleteI love seagulls :-D
ReplyDeleteWe see them here even in the middle of winter.
ReplyDeleteThe gulls are everywhere, we see them on parking lots.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo! Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great week.
Hello and what a joy to see this little one perhaps speculating over how very lucky to be in that particular spot. So lovely.
ReplyDelete