A frame-filling, close up, side view of a Ring-billed Gull lying on white sandy beach. It is a large, mostly white gull with gray back/wing feathers, fluffy-looking white breast and belly feathers, a red-rimmed yellow eye, light tan flecks on the head, and a long yellow beak with a black ring around it. Some large white feathers in the back are blown upward, and the tail area is ruffled by the wind, as are some of the head feathers -- making it seem like the bird has a little crest. Back-most feathers are tipped with black. The gull is resting in white beach sand and there is some stringy sea debris in the bottom right. There is a calm, contented expression. The background is mainly varying shades of warm gray.
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis).
Lying in the sand, trying to photograph a little peep in the distance, I turned to see this handsome gull at eye level, looking so content with feathers ruffled by the wind.
#BirdoftheDay theme of #RuffledFeathers
#birds #Florida #naturephotography