Here are a two studies of resting Laughing Gulls. In winter, they look quite a lot different from their summer (breeding) plumage mostly as they have lost the dark chocolate brown color on their heads. Also the bright red bill has darkened to black although some birds still have remnants of red. Still, I enjoy the mottled pattern of dark on the heads which varies from bird to bird. Here this bird is not very heavily marked.
This sleeping bird was part of a larger flock that I singled out to paint. I liked the subtle shadow on the breast which warmed and deepened as it crept under the belly. Also the shadow as it undulated over the uneven surface of the sand. Although it was a sunny day, all of them were facing into the cool stiff breeze - most birds do this. Both these watercolor studies were done in my sketchbook, sizes are about 6 x 9 inches.
