California Gull

California Gull – A Misnamed Gull Species

By |2024-01-13T11:41:19-07:00January 13th, 2024|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, California Gulls, Davis County, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

As I photographed a winter California Gull at my local pond two days ago, I thought about how these gulls are a misnamed species for the umpteenth time.

California Gull In Winter Plumage

By |2024-01-13T04:10:07-07:00December 8th, 2023|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I was at my local pond three days ago, I was happy to photograph this California Gull in winter plumage that had just landed on the water.

California Gull Playing With A Stick

By |2023-10-23T03:15:14-06:00January 25th, 2023|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning I'm sharing two photos of a California Gull playing with a stick at one of my local ponds that I took during the winter in January of 2021.

Cloudy And Gray Winter Solstice

By |2022-12-22T05:00:28-07:00December 22nd, 2022|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

My Winter Solstice was cloudy and gray. I wandered down to my local pond to take in my first day of winter views of the Wasatch Mountains plus a few birds.

Winter California And Herring Gull Comparison In Utah

By |2023-03-27T03:47:22-06:00November 8th, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, California Gulls, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Herring Gulls, Pinellas County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Since I frequently get asked which is which I thought this would be a good time to do a winter California and Herring Gull comparison and ID feature post.

Three California Gull Photos

By |2022-01-28T02:47:56-07:00January 19th, 2022|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, California Gulls, Davis County, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While taking a short break yesterday morning I went down to my local pond for a few minutes and took a few California Gull photos while I was there.

Christmas Day Birds 2021

By |2021-12-26T05:18:25-07:00December 26th, 2021|Categories: American Coots, Birds, California Gulls, Common Goldeneyes, Great Blue Herons, Great-tailed Grackles, Mallards, Rough-legged Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I did get out to find and photograph birds on Christmas Day at Farmington Bay WMA and then later in the morning I found more closer to home.

Focusing On Herring Gulls – Winter Visitors To Northern Utah

By |2022-01-06T04:54:22-07:00January 9th, 2020|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Herring Gulls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I know some people don't get excited about gulls but I do and I was thrilled two days ago at Bear River MBR when I spotted and photographed my first Herring Gulls of this winter season.

California Gull With Eyes That Look Like Snowflake Obsidian

By |2021-12-11T06:13:08-07:00December 19th, 2019|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It has been three years and one day since I took photos of a California Gull that had eyes that looked like snowflake obsidian.

Imagine Utah Without California Gulls

By |2023-12-17T02:41:36-07:00August 11th, 2019|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, California Gulls, Conservation, Davis County, Environment, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Ah, Mia, it is just a bird. No, it isn't just a bird. Because California Gulls aren't the only birds at risk of disappearing from the skies, shorelines and waters of Utah.

Some Of The Birds Seen At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge During The Month of May

By |2024-03-28T06:01:15-06:00May 19th, 2019|Categories: American Avocets, American Bitterns, American Coots, American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Blue-winged Teals, Box Elder County, Brown-headed Cowbirds, California Gulls, Cinnamon Teals, Clark's Grebes, Cliff Swallows, Forster's Terns, Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitchers, Marsh Wrens, Northern Shovelers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Ruddy Ducks, Savannah Sparrows, Tree Swallows, Utah, Western Grebes, White-faced Ibises, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

May is a time of renewal at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and as the marsh begins to green up the migrant birds return and along with the year round residents their songs and calls can be heard over the wetlands.

Winter California Gull Splashing On Landing – Goodbye February

By |2021-12-11T07:00:39-07:00March 1st, 2019|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On one of the brighter afternoons I spent just 15 minutes at the local pond and came away with lots of photos of winter California Gulls bathing, flying and landing and among those I liked this image the most.

Barn Owl, Immature Bald Eagle, California And Ring-billed Gulls

By |2021-12-24T14:34:50-07:00February 9th, 2019|Categories: Bald Eagles, Barn Owls, Birds, California Gulls, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Ring-billed Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

So, even though I didn't get great photos yesterday I was glad to get out and photograph a Barn Owl, Bald Eagle and these California and Ring-billed Gulls.

California Gull On Ice In Salt Lake County

By |2021-12-11T07:02:37-07:00January 4th, 2019|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

While photographing a California Gull on ice two days ago I was reminded of how well these gulls survive the bitter cold we have here at times during the winter even when the ponds, lakes and rivers freeze over.

2018 Year In Review For On The Wing Photography

By |2024-03-20T09:27:33-06:00December 31st, 2018|Categories: Baltimore Orioles, Birds, Brewer's Blackbirds, California Gulls, Cedar Waxwings, Northern Mockingbirds, Peregrine Falcons, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Say's Phoebes, Tundra Swans, Wild Turkeys, Yellow Warblers, Yellow-bellied Marmots|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

All in all, as 2018 comes to a close I realize how fortunate I am to see all the birds that I do throughout the year as a bird photographer, to be able to do what I love and to love my feathered subjects too.

Low Light California Gull In Flight During A Snow Storm

By |2021-12-11T07:06:37-07:00November 30th, 2018|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

During the winter I have opportunities to photograph California Gulls in flight in snow storms in low light and while images like this one aren't appealing to everyone's tastes I like them a lot.

Some Of The Joys Of Photographing Birds Close To Home

By |2024-02-13T15:20:13-07:00November 19th, 2018|Categories: American Coots, Birds, California Gulls, Canada Geese, Pied-billed Grebes, Ring-necked Ducks, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I spent some time at one of the local ponds yesterday afternoon and came home with photos that made me smile and for a little while I forgot about the long hours I spent getting skunked on the road earlier in the day.

Great Salt Lake Brine Flies – Important Food Source For California Gulls

By |2022-11-08T16:00:33-07:00July 14th, 2018|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Brine Flies, California Gulls, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Brine flies that live in the Great Salt Lake are an important food source for California Gulls and watching the gulls feed on the flies is fascinating as they use several techniques to catch them.

Winter California and Herring Gull Portrait Comparisons

By |2022-11-07T18:51:26-07:00March 3rd, 2018|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Herring Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

We have the Ring-billed and California Gulls in northern Utah year round but the Herring Gulls are only winter visitors to this area.

Salt Lake County Winter California Gull Portrait

By |2021-12-11T07:29:23-07:00January 25th, 2018|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Two days ago this California Gull flew in and was so close to me that I felt I had to take portraits of it because the gull looked so handsome against the blue of the water.

For The Love Of All That’s Birdy, There Is No Such Thing As A Seagull

By |2024-03-27T04:25:13-06:00November 26th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, California Gulls, Davis County, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Laughing Gulls, Pinellas County, Ring-billed Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

One of the things that make my feathers ruffle though is when I see people post a bird photo and call it a "seagull" because there is no such thing as a seagull.

Gulls, Ducks and Geese in a Snow Storm

By |2024-02-15T15:28:22-07:00January 22nd, 2017|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Canada Geese, Common Goldeneyes, Mallards, Redheads, Ring-billed Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I spent about 40 minutes photographing the gulls, ducks and geese in the snow storm here in northern Utah yesterday and had a lot of fun doing it.

Eye Color Variation in California Gulls

By |2024-03-03T11:03:22-07:00December 19th, 2016|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The typical eye color for California Gulls is a very dark brown that appears almost black in most cases but there can be variations in their eye color.

Double-crested Cormorant with its Catch – The Story Behind the Images

By |2024-03-27T06:16:47-06:00December 13th, 2016|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Double-crested Cormorants, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was fun photographing this Double-crested Cormorant with its catch yesterday afternoon close to home especially since I knew the weather was going to take a turn.

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