California Gull flapping its wings after a bath – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I photographed this California Gull after it bathed almost a year ago at a small pond close to where I live in Salt Lake County on a cold afternoon. I like this time of the year because I get to see more gulls up close than I do any other time of the year for the most part and I love photographing them.
It was bitter cold and windy that afternoon and I recall that I was having a hard time taking photos because the wind kept catching the inside my lens hood which shook my lens whenever a wind gust hit.
I had been taking images of a drake Common Goldeneye when I noticed this California Gull splashing and taking a bath so I switched my focus to the gull just as it finished bathing. I know from experience and my years in the field that gulls will often flap their wings when they are done taking a bath and that is precisely what this gull did.
California Gull leaping into the air after a bath – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I also know from my years of observation that typically gulls will leap into the air after they flap their wings when they are finished bathing. This California Gull did not disappoint and I was very happy that this gull took a leap from the icy cold water. The pose of the gull reminds me a bit of a ballerina standing on the tip of their toes.
After the snow that fell yesterday I had hoped to go down to my local pond to see what birds were there but when I was scraping the ice that froze on my Jeep windshield overnight I re-tweaked my injured radial nerve that has been bothering my left wrist which had been slowly healing. I decided to stay home and give my wrist a rest yesterday but I will be back out into the field soon and I hope that I will find some gulls to focus on.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my California Gull photos plus facts and information about this species.
Wishing you fast healing for your radial nerve! Thank you for sharing these delightful California Gull shots — Swan Lake is looking over its shoulder. 😉
Love gulls. Not only are they attractive and graceful in the air and in the water but they are so cooperative for all of us shutterbugs making our lives so easy.
You are so right about the ballet pose.
I hope that your wrist heals. Quickly. And thank you for the magic you bring to my predawn day.