There was a sheet of ice in the center of the pond, but I had no idea how thin it was until a Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) that I was watching fell through the ice. I captured this little series of shots as the gull scrambled to regain its footing. Undeterred by its brief contact with the frigid water, the gull continued its solitary march across the ice, although it did seem to move a bit more slowly and cautiously.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
That’s a great capture Mike!
Thanks. Gulls are pretty ordinary birds, so it was especially cool to capture one in a somewhat unusual situation.
That’s neat!
Aw, poor little guy.
What great shots and I love gulls!
Wow! Must have been vert thin ice. Cool shots!
Ouch! Great series, Mike!
Thanks, Ellen. Fortunately the gull was able to extricate itself quickly and easily–it helps to have wings. If it had been me, I would have been soaked and miserable and really cold. 🙂
Yes to the wings, and birds don’t get embarrassed as these things happen! I’ve had a couple of tumbles and try to be very conscious of where I put my feet for safety, and not just because of the alligators.
OOh, ouch, crash, rough waters in that pool!
Fascinated by the last photo Mike.. unusual pose. Its legs are braced hard and wide-apart, reminds me of a small ski plane landing! And I love the reflection too 🙂
I think the gull was trying to reestablish its stability after its little mishap. I remember when I was taking the photos and doubted that I had been able to capture the action. That last photo is a good example why I often shoot in burst mode when photographing birds–minor changes in poses can really make or break an image.