Ring-billed Gull In The River With A Fish

Ring-billed Gull With A Fish

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I took photos of a Ring-billed Gull while sitting on the rocks beneath the dam at Robert S. Kerr Lock and Dam in Oklahoma. It’s always fun to capture these birds diving into the river to catch shad, and it challenges my ability to track them with my camera. This area is home to many birds, making it difficult to decide which one to focus on. However, sometimes these Gulls hover over an area where they’ve found fish before diving into the water to catch it.

Ring-billed Gull In The River With A Fish
A Ring-billed Gull In The River With A Fish

Ring-billed Gulls are known for their opportunistic feeding behavior, particularly when it comes to catching fish below a dam. They show remarkable agility and precision while swooping down to catch fish that are disoriented or stunned by the turbulent waters near the dam. Their scavenging nature and ability to capitalize on the disorientation of fish make them highly successful fish catchers in such environments. The black ring near the tip of their distinctive yellow bill makes them easily identifiable during these feeding frenzies.

Ring-billed Gull Leaving The River With A Fish
A Ring-billed Gull Leaving The River With A Fish

Image Information (First Image):

  • Date: 12/11/23
  • Time: 09:25 AM
  • Camera: Canon EOS R5
  • Lens: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
  • ISO: 640
  • Aperture: 8
  • Shutter: 1/3200
  • Exp. Comp.: -0.3
  • Lens (mm): 500
  • Program Mode: Manual