Little Gull by Alex Penn

 

 

Little Gull is such a beautiful species at all ages and in all plumages. These characterful little birds are always a joy to watch, especially when they give as good views as this first-winter bird did recently on an Orkney beach for Alex Penn. Making the most of the low winter sunshine, Alex has executed a series of lovely images of this cracking bird, including this delightful capture of it seemingly tiptoeing across the sand. With the wings framed in an attractive, 'angelic' pose, Alex has executed a fantastic image to remember this close encounter by. Congratulations!

 

Other notable images

 

Waxwing, Farnham, Surrey (Duncan Whitfield).

Northern Waterthrush, Heybridge, Maldon, Essex (Lee Fuller).

Redwing, Arlington Reservoir, East Sussex (John Lauper).

Whooper Swan, Oslo, Oslo (Andreas Gullberg).

Smew, Lunt Meadows NR, Lancashire (Steve Young).

Sanderling, Leven, Fife (Harry Bell).

Short-eared Owl, undisclosed site, East Yorkshire (Glyn Sellors).

Red-necked Grebe, Llanishen Reservoir, Glamorgan (Colin Harvey).

White-winged Scoter, Inishmore, Galway (Dermot Breen).

Red-breasted Merganser, Hartlepool, Cleveland (Glyn Sellors).

Long-tailed Tit, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire (Martin Abbess).

Waxwing, Hassop, Derbyshire (Glyn Sellors).

Northern Cardinal, Bloomington, Indiana (Steve Bell).