Seabirds

Here are some photos I took during last weekend's break. The trip was mainly for seascapes (under the guise of a family holiday) but the birdlife was too good an opportunity not to have a quick go at. I have enjoyed the few sessions I have attempted bird photography and it is an area which I want to spend some time on. So I would appreciate comments, particularly from keen bird photographers on these, and particularly criticism - it is nigh on impossible to offend me so if you think these are largely boring or over cliched then I'd like to know. Plus help with ID's would be appreciated. All with DA 55-300 and I've tried not to overcrop:

Little egret (I think and probably not a seabird but a bird in the sea). It just wouldn't let me get closer but I quite like the rockpool environment:




Another, it's a little soft and there's not enough room below the reflection but I like the pose:




This one is a bit sharper:




Shame about the bland background but I like the way this shows the aerodynamic design:




This one I do like. Herring or common gull, I can't tell:




Shaded head, but I like the juvenile markings:




I liked these little things, very tricky as they don't half shift:




Nice little compact grouping of gulls with black heads (black-headed gulls?):




One of them touching down:




ID please:




And again please:

Not great at ID's as I tend to take the pic and then search. The RSPB website is fairly good. I'd have a stab at a Sanderling link and then a couple of Turnstones.

A very nice set, maybe a few of the gulls are a bit central in the frame. I like to give them space to move into. You say there wasn't enough room for the reflection in #2, I still think its a super shot

I have to agree with the Sanderling and Turnstone 'stab' - however, I am no expert

As for crtiticism I feel it would be a bit harsh given the 300mm focal length, distnace to the birds and strong sunlight in some of them I think you have done very well

Each time I think of a criticism of the photo's I want to give myself a slap for being a moaning git

I don't know squat about birds but they look pretty damn good to me The second is fantastic! While I like a vignette probably more than most I think in 4 and 11 it might be a bit too prominent.

last one is turnstone

Nice set of difficult group of birds
Dave

Definately Sanderlings and Turnstones, the one in flight between the gull shots is also a Sanderling, as for either Common or Herring gull I have no idea, its a chip nicker