National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Video Player is loading.
Black-headed gulls
It can be an exhausting effort to get oneself hatched, as the new chick in the colony seems to demonstrate.
From the collection of:
Overview
Life in a wetland colony of Black-headed gulls at nesting/hatching time. This film has no soundtrack but it is easy to imagine the noise that is going on, the birds’ red beaks opening and closing, their Latin name translating as ‘laughing gull’. As the excellent shots show, these gulls, despite their common name, are brown-headed, at least during the breeding season. In winter their heads are white, with smudges of brown on each side.
The greenish/speckled eggs of the black-headed gull are still collected and sold, under strict licence, mainly in particular areas of Hampshire, North Yorkshire and Co. Durham. Once cooked, they are regarded as a great delicacy. The location of the gulls in this film is unknown at present. They are found on coastal and inland wetlands across Britain and Ireland, the largest groups clustered around the Thames Estuary, coastal East Anglia and the urban areas of northern England, central Scotland and south Wales.
Related
Watch for free
Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.
Watch for free
Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.
Watch for free
Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass) Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass)
2013 61 mins
British cinematographer of The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Hillsborough and Riff Raff reviews the art of the moving image.
Watch for free
Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.
Watch for free
Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.
Watch for free
Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.