Close Encounters of the Seagull Kind

[Juanito200]

I was taking photos of some of the local seagulls while on South Padre Island. I thought they were all right, nothing too fancy, but good images anyway.. My kids, however, thought I could do better. They insisted on some pictures of them with the seagulls. I told them they risked a dive-bombing if they tried, but they insisted. So I let them. Here are the results. First my original images. The gulls were all too eager to be in the show. Thanks for looking, John (my apologies to Spielberg)

[Juanito200]

Ian and Emma were eager to feed the gulls with Goldfish snacks. Emma soon found out that she had a distinct height disadvantage, and changed her approach to the super stealthy cover yourself in sand and wait Ninja approach.

[Juanito200]

Ian finally had success with a hand feeding of the birds. This then emboldened him to try the William Tell approach to seagull feeding. (note the Goldfish snacks ON TOP OF HIS HEAD!!!) I have no idea where my kids get these crazy ideas

[Juanito200]

And finally, after the gulls had eaten all they could, they took off. I swear I heard the middle two gull arguing about whose turn it was to poop on the peoples head. "No Marty it wasyour turn to poop on them today"
Both Ian and Emma escaped dive-bombing..

Thanks to Aster for the inspiration her many seagull stories.

No children or seagulls were injured in the photographing of this story.

[aster]

John, you are having lots of fun there, at your end!

Your seagull stories are no less adventurous or funny. : ) I have to admit, the blue gradient of the sky in the background in all the photos is lovely. The seagulls are very different from the ones we have in Istanbul. I like their dark heads and bills...

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a good family holiday where seagulls are also temporarily in the notion that they are family to those playing under the Sun and share the lunch... : )

Yildiz

[Birma]

Hi John - a really fun set . Some nice action shots of the gulls in flight as well.

While we were on holiday at the seaside in the UK recently (Cornwall) people were very strongly discouraged from feeding the gulls (a different type, the much large Herring Gull) They have become a real problem as they have become so 'bold'. On several occasions when our little girl was eating outside people would come over to warn us that she risked being 'attacked' by the gulls. I think the Black Headed Gulls you encountered look a far more civilised type of bird .

[Juanito200]

Thanks guys. Birma- These gulls aren't too aggressive at all... Most of the time they stayed well over head, or milled around on the ground, until someone started throwing food to them. John

[david antony]

Very nice gull shots John and real fun holiday captures with your family.
Good time had by all. ;^) Thanks for sharing.

[Dr. Harout]

Nice sequence shots, John.

[sury]

John,
The fine photo set is certainly made more enjoyable by your comments.
Thanks for the enjoyable respite....

Sury

[Greg Beetham]

Good bit of fun for the kids John, those Seagulls look fairly well behaved.
Greg

[Dusty]

Nice shots, John. I hope you all had a lot of fun on vacation.

Dusty