Winter California Gull portrait – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/4000, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
When a bird approaches me up close I am always happy to take close up portraits of them and it doesn’t matter to me one iota what species the bird is. I am a bird photographer and I find beauty in them all.
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. The gulls at my local pond are in their winter or nonbreeding plumage right now and I think their appearance is striking. Those dark eyes against the red orbital ring really pop against their snow white feathers.
California Gulls are abundant in Utah, they nest on islands in the Great Salt Lake and I have enjoyed photographing them in their different plumage phases and I have even been fortunate enough to photograph them in flight with nesting materials in their bills while on Antelope Island State Park and I think they make great subjects to photograph.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my California Gull photos plus facts and information about this species.
Great portrait! Love the gulls eye. Thanks Mia.
Great Image!
Nice portrait, and I like the other three California Gull images posted too.
They are great flyers and can be seen nearly everywhere in Northern Utah.
A very “reagull seagull!” 😉
Oh WOW!
This is a wonderful portrait of a very handsome bird…I especially like how crisp the detsil is and that I can see the direction of growth of each feather…
Gorgeous photo , Mia
I agree with Kim, “Stunning!”
Your lesson on “it’s not a seagull really took. It was the first thing I thought of when I read your title.
I am from Massachusetts and find a California Gull anything but boring. Nice pic!
Stunning!