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Great Black Backed Gulls

Great Black Backed Gull - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I can’t resist a flypast

Whenever there’s a Great Black Backed Gull flying past I just can’t resist taking a portrait. I love their faces. Am I …

Great Black Backed Gull - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The biggest gull in the world

The Great Black Backed Gull is the largest gull in the world. We’re aboard the Kelly’s Hero on a cruise out of …

Arctic Tern and Great Black-Backed Gull - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Chasing

Once species chasing another is the order of the day. Inter-species conflict is breaking out all over the island. We’ve had an …

Great Black Backed Gull and Oystercatcher - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The scolders are at it again

You may be the great Baakie, Lord of All He Surveys, largest gull in the entire world, but you’re still going to …

Great Black Backed Gull - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The biggest gull in the world

Hunter, pirate, scavenger, the Great Black-Backed Gull is a curious opportunist. It is the apex predator unless a White-Tailed Sea Eagle appears. …

Great Black-Backed Gull - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Harsh life

We are at Noup Head watching the birds fly by. We get a close pass from a Great Black-Backed Gull. Aren’t they …

Great Skua - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Bonxies on a boat

Great Skuas, Stercorarius skua, are known as Bonxies in Orkney. Their flashing go-faster white wing-stripes are a familiar sight as they patrol …

Bonxie v Baakie - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The struggle for survival

In the battle of Bonxie v Baakie there was only ever going to be one winner. It was the Bonxie. Here it …

Bonxie v Baakie - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Bonxie v Baakie

Bonxie v Baakie. Who do you think will win the epic battle of the fish? It’s Great Skua v Great Black-Backed Gull …

Spray - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey

Splash!

The seas are magical here. There are exhilarating waves at the Knowe o’ Skea. Out on the skerries, the wary Shags gather, …

Great Black Backed Gull - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Great Black Backed Gull

Great Black Backed Gulls are properly massive. And I mean massive. And their beaks? Massive too. Seeing one call overhead on Westray …

Great Black-Backed Gull - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Great Black Backed Gull

Great Black Backed Gulls are gulls, yet on an epic scale. Seeing one coming towards you is quite a sight: That’s some …

Herring Gull - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Confusing Gulls

Gulls are confusing. They all look superficially the same with their big bills, grey backs and beady eyes, but there are some …