Laughing gull with a catch

Early September has these gulls partway through their molt out of full black-hooded breeding plumage into the paler winter head pattern, giving this one a smudged, half-finished look around the face. It snatched this small fish right at the surface without ever fully landing.

Why it matters

Laughing gulls are the most common gull on the mid-Atlantic coast in summer and get their name from their loud, cackling call — a sound that’s as much a fixture of a beach day here as the surf itself.

Getting the shot

A fast shutter froze the fish clean in the bill without any motion blur, timed for the moment the gull banked to show its full wingspan against the water rather than a straight-on flight pass.