Winter California Gull hovering over the Bear River, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahWinter California Gull hovering over the Bear River – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/8000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

A few weeks ago I posted some Ring-billed and Herring Gull photos taken at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in January of this year and I decided to share another gull image that I took that same day, photos of the state bird of Utah.

California Gulls are year round residents here in northern Utah and have been credited, whether true or not, with saving the Mormon Pioneers by eating grasshoppers that were decimating their crops which is how a bird with the name of another state became Utah’s state bird.

I photographed this California Gull hovering over the Bear River with the snow covered Promontory Mountains in the back ground while it looked for prey in the open water below.

I don’t have as much light in the eye as I normally would like to have but I think the position of the wings and the fine feather details make up for that quite well. I really don’t know how people could dislike these beautiful birds.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my California Gull photos plus facts and information about this species.