American Herring Gull

Herring Gull on an angled post with several cables attached.
American Herring Gull, Galveston Island, Galveston, TX , September 6, 2009
Sony DSC-H3; 63 mm; ISO-320; f/10; 1/2000 sec.

This page is for the American Herring Gull (Larus smithonianus). My first photographic evidence of a Herring Gull occurred on September 6, 2009 while we were on vacation at Galveston Island. This photograph is also the best image I have of a Herring Gull.

The above photograph is currently the only representative example of a Herring Gull that I have taken.

Herring Gull flying overhead and away from the camera.
American Herring Gull, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, Chicago, IL April 12, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-160; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Herring Gull flying nearby with a large cloud just offshore.
American Herring Gull, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 10, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-500; f/11; 1/800 sec.
Herring Gull flying over the surf with a snail in its beak before dropping it to the ground in an attempt to break the shell.
American Herring Gull, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 10, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-1250; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Herring Gull soaring nearby.
American Herring Gull, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 11, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/11; 1/800 sec.
Herring Gull soaring nearby.
American Herring Gull, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 11, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-320; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Herring Gull eating a snail on the beach after dropping it from high in the air to break it open.
American Herring Gull, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 11, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Herring Gull picking up a snail from the beach and trying to fend off another Herring Gull that flew in to try and steal a meal.
American Herring Gull, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 11, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Herring Gull soaring nearby. A large breaking wave is in the background.
American Herring Gull, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 11, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-500; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Herring Gull flying nearby and just dropped a snail in an attempt to break its shell on the beach.
American Herring Gull, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 11, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-500; f/11; 1/800 sec.
Herring Gull picking up a snail from the beach after an unsuccessful attempt at breaking it open.
American Herring Gull, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 11, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Herring Gull standing on the beach in very shallow water with a snail in its mouth.
American Herring Gull, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 11, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Two Herring Gulls being affectionate.
American Herring Gull, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 11, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-1000; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Herring Gull perched on a large rock in the ocean.
American Herring Gull, Gooseberry Island, Westport, MA, January 12, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/10; 1/1000 sec.
Herring Gull perched on a navigational light.
American Herring Gull, Mustang Island, Port Aransas, TX, February 22, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-1000; f/11; 1/1000 sec. +1 Exposure Bias
Herring Gull flying low over the beach.
American Herring Gull, Port Aransas, TX, February 23, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/11; 1/1000 sec.
Herring Gull sitting on the sandy beach.
American Herring Gull, Port Aransas, TX, February 23, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-400; f/10; 1/1000 sec.
American Herring Gull flying overhead.
American Herring Gull, Grand Marais, MN, January 19, 2025
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-320; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Over three dozen American Herring Gulls resting on the ice of a bay.
American Herring Gull, Grand Marais, MN, January 19, 2025
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-400; f/10; 1/800 sec.