One year ago tomorrow I was at Bear River MBR where I took these winter Ring-billed Gull images from the west side of the auto tour loop at the refuge. It was quiet, restful, and a crystal clear morning out on the frozen marsh.
Ring-billed Gull resting on a shelf of ice – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/4000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
If I had packed a lunch I could have sat with the Herring, California, and Ring-billed Gulls all day along with the other birds I found at this spot. This section of open water attracted many birds that morning. Ice-free water often attracts large numbers of gulls, ducks, eagles, and wading birds during the winter in northern Utah.
I love gulls and I’ll photograph them whenever I have the opportunity. I believe that gulls are every bit as beautiful and fascinating as any other bird species I find in my viewfinder. I don’t drive or walk past them without taking at least a few images of gulls.
Ring-billed Gull flying over a frozen wetland – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I sat in one spot at the refuge and enjoyed not feeling rushed as I took photos of the Ring-billed, California, and Herring Gulls that were flying, fighting, feeding, preening, walking, and resting in front of me. I focused quite often on the Herring Gulls because they are only here in northern Utah for a few months during the winter and because of that I don’t like passing up any opportunities I have with them.
When I was looking through the photos I took in January of last year I came across these two Ring-billed Gull images and decided that I wanted to share them today. The gulls in the photos above are stunning in my eyes. When this weather clears I hope to drive up and spend more time focusing on photographing winter gulls at the refuge.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Ring-billed Gull photos plus facts and information about this species.
I had no idea as I sat photographing all of the birds I found at the refuge the morning of January 6th what was going on in Washington D.C. because I pretty much ignore my phone while I am out in the field. When I returned home I felt terror as I watched the live videos of the January 6th insurrection at our nation’s capitol. After such a relaxed and peaceful morning alone at the refuge it was a tremendous shock to see the violence on my TV screen.
Ha, funny you should post after my find yesterday in the parking lot of a furniture store! Haley thought perhaps it was hit by a car being located along a busy a street. It may have more injuries that were not visible besides the broken wing . Haley called me all excited after catching it and asked me if I knew what type of gull it was, I said yes, that is why I suggested trying for placement. I hope the injured gull might be placeable if not repairable for release since it was a less common Ring-billed Gull rather than the California Gull.
Gulls can be such jerks sometimes. Beautiful, beautiful jerks. And smart ones too. Several species and hybrids make nuisances of themselves in our city’s schoolyards with their brazen antics. Even though it was risky to walk around campus after nutrition or lunch, the benefit of watching them (usually) outweighed the threat of becoming a target for one with a full digestive system.
I can’t even bring myself to think about tomorrow’s “anniversary.”
I am not a gull lover but I must admit your photos of the Ring-billed Gulls are fabulous. The eyes!! I, as a Canadian, was as horrified as you about what was showing on the TV screen a year ago tomorrow. Let us hope it never ever happens again.