I'm not sure where the blown highlights come from......not a hint on the original, or on the processed version. Unfortunately the head/breast of the gull on the other version (see blog) are chronically over-exposed.
If I was in the area again I might have another go in different light - sunrise would probably be excellent. But I get tired of landscapes with golden/pink washes all over them.
I take Rory's point about the need for a border.
In a general sense why should photographs be easily "read", anyway? If that had been my intention I could have used a shorter lens, included some sky and all the usual stuff. Yes, I could even have photographed it golden hour light. The intention was to make an image that was difficult to get to grips with.
I couldn't help but notice this in doublem1's signature:
"You've got to start looking for pictures no one else could take"