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Great Black-backed Gull - Svartbak - Larus marinus
Havstrut -  Svartbag -  Merilokki

Great Black-backed Gull is a common breeder and resident in Øygarden. It breeds mostly out on the islands with scattered pairs elsewhere. They are a ferocious predator and I have seen them catch and eat young Common Gulls in flight, swallow Little Auks in just one gulp and plenty more besides.

They can chase off a White-tailed Eagle but there is one bird that will strike panic into the heart of even the toughest GBBG - Great Skua. No matter how many large gulls there are in a flock the appearance of a single Great Skua will have them fleeing in all directions.
 

Great Black-backed Gulls fighting over mackerel
Great Black-backed Gulls, Øygarden, 09 September 2008

Adult Great Black-backed Gull
Adult GBBG, Øygarden, 09 September 2008

The following book takes a lot of the mystery of gull identification:



juvenile GBBG
Juvenile Great Black-backed Gull, Øygarden, 09 September 2008

Young GBBG, Øygarden, July 2018
Young GBBG, Øygarden, July 2018

Great Black backed Gulls, Brage, Norwegian Sector, August 2021
Adult Great Black backed Gulls, Brage, Norwegian Sector, August 2021

Great Black backed Gulls, Brage, Norwegian Sector, August 2021
Juvenile Great Black backed Gull, Brage, Norwegian Sector, August 2021

Moulting GBBG, Leman Field, August 2021
Moulting GBBG, Leman Field, August 2021
Gulls often look rather tatty during the late summer moult



Finally owning a DSLR means that I can now take pictures of flying birds - something that I found almost impossible with digiscoping. Its a big advantage but also has its drawbacks too - the "tiny" 300mm lens means that I have to get a lot closer than I did with the 'scope.


digiscoping, digibinning, bird photography
Great Black-backed Gull, January 2007
Great Black-backed Gull / Svartbak, Sleipner, 05 February 2007




Above picture taken with a Canon EOS400D with a Sigma 70-300mm telephoto lens


Great Black-backed Gull nest


Great black-backed Gull nest, Tjeldstø, Øygarden, 15 May 2007


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