California Gull with snowflake obsidian eyes, Salt Lake County, UtahCalifornia Gull with snowflake obsidian eyes – Nikon D500, f10, 1/640, ISO 200, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

It has been three years and one day since I took photos of a California Gull that had eyes that looked like snowflake obsidian. Typically California Gulls have dark irises but they do exhibit eye color variation at times. I was able to take portraits of this California Gull with unusual eyes because it was resting on the shoreline of the pond close to where I sat in a “mobile blind”. The gull also had a tiny snowflake on its bill.

I haven’t been seeing California Gulls in large numbers at my local ponds yet but when or if the ponds start to freeze over they should arrive in large numbers and then I will be looking for unusual eye color variations in this species.

Snowflake Obsidian necklacesSnowflake Obsidian necklaces – Samsung cell phone image

Last night I dug into my jewelry so I could photograph these two snowflake obsidian and sterling silver necklaces that I created about sixteen or seventeen years ago while I was living in Colorado. The California Gull’s eyes do look just like these snowflake obsidian stones.

Just a short post today, the clouds are moving east and I am hoping to get back out into the field this morning.

Life is good.

Mia

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