Gulls – Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

The Great Salt Lake is D(r)ying and Utah’s Water Crisis

By Mia McPherson|April 26th, 2015|Categories: American White Pelicans, Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-necked Stilts, Box Elder County, Brine Flies, Conservation, Davis County, Eared Grebes, Environment, Franklin's Gulls, Northern Shovelers, Utah, Wilson's Phalaropes|Tags: American White Pelican, bird photography, birds, Black-necked Stilt, brine fly, brine shrimp, climate change, climate crisis, drought, drying, duck, ducks, dying, Eared Grebe, Great Basin hub, Great Salt Lake, grebe, grebes, habitat, hyper saline, hypersaline, migration, Northern Shoveler, Pacific Flyway, pelican, pelicans, phalarope, phalaropes, record low, shoveler, shovelers, water crisis, Wilson's Phalarope|

One thing I know for certain is that we can't drink dust.

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California Gulls on a Clear April Morning

By Mia McPherson|April 21st, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, California Gulls, Davis County, Utah|Tags: adult, breeding plumage, California Gull, close up, desert island, flight, flying, grasshopper hatch, gull, gulls, Larus californicus, portrait, spring|

The California Gulls and the Marbled Godwit came in close and I decided to do some portrait images of the gull.

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Ring-billed Gull Age Progression

By Mia McPherson|November 14th, 2014|Categories: Birds, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Ring-billed Gulls, Utah|Tags: adult, coast, coastal, first summer, first winter, Gulf of Mexico, gull, gulls, juvenile, Larus delawarensis, Ring-billed Gull, second fall|

In February of 2011 I wrote about the age progression of Bald Eagles along with images to illustrate the ages, today I am doing the same but with Ring-billed Gulls.

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Ring-billed Gull in flight over the Gulf

By Mia McPherson|September 2nd, 2014|Categories: Birds, Florida, Honeymoon Island State Park, Pinellas County, Ring-billed Gulls|Tags: adult, flight, flying, Gulf of Mexico, Larus delawarensis, Ring-billed Gull|

Ring-billed Gulls are fairly common but as with any common bird I believe that they can be uncommonly beautiful.

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An Aerial Food Fight – Gulls and a Tern

By Mia McPherson|May 4th, 2014|Categories: American Herring Gulls, Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Laughing Gulls, Royal Terns|Tags: American Herring Gull, bird photography, chase, flight, flying, food, food fight, Gulf of Mexico, Larus smithsonianus, Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, Pinellas County, Royal Tern, Thalasseus maximus|

This image was taken on a breezy April morning in 2009 at Fort De Soto County Park's north beach when I saw an aerial food fight occurring over the Gulf of Mexico.

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Portrait of a California Gull

By Mia McPherson|April 5th, 2014|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, California Gulls, Utah|Tags: adult, breeding plumage, California Gull, close up, Davis County, desert island, gull, gulls, Larus californicus, portrait, spring|

Over the past week I have seen California Gulls in breeding plumage flying to Egg Island in the Great Salt Lake with nesting material in their bills while on the north end of Antelope Island State Park.

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California Gull On The Wing

By Mia McPherson|March 22nd, 2014|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, California Gulls, Environment, Utah|Tags: adult, breeding plumage, Buffalo Point, California Gull, Davis County, flight, flying, gull, gulls, Larus californicus, on the wing|

Photographing this California Gull on the wing was a highlight of my morning the day I took this photo. I love to photograph gulls.

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Adult and juvenile Laughing Gulls

By Mia McPherson|March 4th, 2014|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Laughing Gulls, Pinellas County|Tags: adult, beach, breeding plumage, clouds, coast, coastal, flight, flying, Gulf of Mexico, gull, gulls, immature, juvenile, Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, nonbreeding plumage, Pinellas County, sky, water, waves, young|

Laughing Gulls are commonly seen at Fort De Soto County Park but novices to birding and bird watching might think they are three different kinds of gulls depending on their age and plumage.

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Four Intimate Gull Portraits

By Mia McPherson|January 25th, 2014|Categories: American Herring Gulls, Birds, California Gulls, Florida, Laughing Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Utah|Tags: American Herring Gull, California Gull, close up, gull, gulls, Larus californicus, Larus delawarensis, Larus smithsonianus, Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, Pinellas County, portrait, portraits, Ring-billed Gull|

I like gulls. I especially like being able to see them up close when the opportunities arise and will take advantage of my close proximity by taking portraits of these beautiful but often disliked birds.

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A Ring-billed Gull – Light on Dark

By Mia McPherson|January 16th, 2014|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Ring-billed Gulls|Tags: adult, bird photography, birding, birds, flight, flying, Larus delawarensis, nature photography, Pinellas County, Ring-billed Gull, wildlife photography|

The day I photographed this Ring-billed Gull at Fort De Soto's north beach there were baitfish in the hundreds of thousands running just off shore and pelicans, egrets, terns and gulls were all in a feeding frenzy.

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Missing Fort De Soto

By Mia McPherson|August 7th, 2013|Categories: American Oystercatchers, Birds, Brown Pelicans, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Greater Yellowlegs, Marbled Godwits, Pinellas County, Ring-billed Gulls, Roseate Spoonbills, Semipalmated Plovers, Short-billed Dowitchers|Tags: American Oystercatcher, Ardea alba, Ardea herodias, Black Skimmer, Brown Pelican, Charadrius semipalmatus, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Greater Yellowlegs, Haematopus palliatus, Larus delawarensis, Limnodromus griseus, Limosa fedoa, Marbled Godwit, Pelecanus occidentalis, Ring-billed Gull, Rynchops niger, Semipalmated Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Tringa melanolueca|

Some days I find myself missing Fort De Soto so much it hurts, the birds I found there and the entire experience of just being there. It is just such an amazing place, how could I not miss it?

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Why Do They Call Them Laughing Gulls?

By Mia McPherson|July 26th, 2013|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Laughing Gulls|Tags: adult, beach, breeding plumage, calling, calls, coastal, Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico, gull, gulls, Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, nonbreeding plumage, photography, Pinellas County, sand, water|

Laughing Gulls are quite noisy when they are in a flock but I never minded listening to them, in fact they often made me laugh.

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Laughing Gulls in breeding and nonbreeding plumage

By Mia McPherson|June 29th, 2013|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Laughing Gulls|Tags: adult, bathing, breeding plumage, coast, coastal, Gulf of Mexico, gull, gulls, lagoon, Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, nonbreeding plumage, Pinellas County, water|

Both of these Laughing Gull images were taken at Fort De Soto County Park's north beach in Florida, the image above shows a Laughing gull in nonbreeding plumage that was taken in September of 2008.

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Bathing Beauty… er… California Gull

By Mia McPherson|June 5th, 2013|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, California Gulls, Utah|Tags: adult, bath, bathing, breeding plumage, California Gull, desert island, drinking, flutter, goofy, gull, gulls, Larus californicus, lifting, puddle, shaking, water|

Okay, I admit it. I think gulls are beautiful and this California Gull sure looked that way bathing! Look at those bright white feathers, the dark sparkling eyes rimmed in red, the darker contrasting gray feathers, the color and shape of the bill. What's not to like about that?

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Potpourri Of Birds From This Week

By Mia McPherson|May 25th, 2013|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, California Gulls, Chukars, Clark's Grebes, Davis County, Eastern Kingbirds, Forster's Terns, Lark Sparrows, Mourning Doves, Tooele County, Utah, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: Aechmophorus clarkii, Alectoris chukar, California Gull, Chondestes grammacus, Chukar, Clark's Grebe, Eastern Kingbird, Forster's Tern, Lark Sparrow, Larus californicus, Mourning Dove, Sterna forsteri, Tyrannus tyrannus, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Zenaida macroura|

These are but a few of the birds I photographed this week in various Utah locations and all of them made great subjects!

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Ruddy Turnstone and a Laughing Gull

By Mia McPherson|April 18th, 2013|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Laughing Gulls, Pinellas County, Ruddy Turnstones|Tags: adult, Arenaria interpres, beach, calico shell, coast, coastal, Gulf, gull, gulls, Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, Ruddy Turnstone, shell, shore, shorebirds, turnstone, turnstones, water|

Five years ago today I was laying in the warm wet sands of Fort De Soto County Park's north beach as the salty water from the Gulf of Mexico soaked my skin while photographing a Ruddy Turnstone doing what they do best, turning things.

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The Brine Fly Buffet begins on the Great Salt Lake

By Mia McPherson|March 11th, 2013|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Brine Flies, California Gulls, Davis County, Franklin's Gulls, Great Salt Lake, Utah|Tags: brine fly, California Gull, Ephydra cinerea, Ephydra hians, Franklin's Gull, Great Salt Lake, Larus californicus, Leucophaeus pipixcan|

Yesterday while near the marina on Antelope Island State Park I spotted my first of the year Brine Flies warming up on some of the rocks in the water.

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The answer to the Gull and Tern Quiz is…

By Mia McPherson|January 28th, 2013|Categories: American Herring Gulls, Bird ID, Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Gulls, Laughing Gulls, Royal Terns|Tags: American Herring Gull, bird ID, bird photography, birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Larus smithsonianus, Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, nature, nature photography, Pinellas County, Royal Tern, Thalasseus maximus, wildlife, wildlife photography|

The majority of you voted for the correct answer: Juvenile Herring Gull, 1st winter Laughing Gull and Royal Tern

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Gull and Tern Quiz

By Mia McPherson|January 26th, 2013|Categories: Bird ID, Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Gulls|Tags: bird ID, bird photography, birding, birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, gulls, nature, nature photography, Pinellas County, quiz, tern, wildlife, wildlife photography|

I came across this image this morning while working up my post Bird images from warmer days and all at 300mm or less and thought it might make a great image for a Bird ID Quiz.

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Bird images from warmer days and all at 300mm or less

By Mia McPherson|January 26th, 2013|Categories: Birds, Fish Crows, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Ghost Crabs, Laughing Gulls, Pinellas County, Short-billed Dowitchers, Willets, Yellow-crowned Night Herons|Tags: bird photography, Corvus ossifragus, Fish Crow, Ghost Crab, Gulf of Mexico, Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, Limnodromus griseus, Nyctanassa violacea, Short-billed Dowitcher, Tringa semipalmata, Willet, Yellow-crowned Night Heron|

Gray skies, freezing temps and the inversions are beginning to get to me so I thought I would share some bird images from warmer days on Fort De Soto County Park's north beach in sunny Florida.

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Goodbye 2012 – Hello 2013

By Mia McPherson|January 1st, 2013|Categories: American Bison, American Kestrels, Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Beaverhead County, Burrowing Owls, California Gulls, Centennial Valley, Coyotes, Montana, Moose, Northern Harriers, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Red-tailed Hawks, Short-eared Owls, Snowy Egrets, Swainson's Hawks, Utah, valley, western skies|Tags: Antelope Island State Park, bird photography, Davis County, Montana, nature, nature photography, Red Rock Lakes NWR, Utah, wildlife photography|

2012 was a fantastic year for me as a photographer and I am looking forward to the joys that 2013 will bring. Happy New Year to all.

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Ring-billed Gull in a dive

By Mia McPherson|December 15th, 2012|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Ring-billed Gulls|Tags: adult, baitfish, dive, diving, flight, Florida, flying, Gulf of Mexico, gull, gulls, Larus delawarensis, prey, Ring-billed Gull|

Just a simple image today that I have always liked because of the action even though I don't have great eye contact with my subject, a Ring-billed Gull.

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Three years ago today when it was actually Winter

By Mia McPherson|December 6th, 2012|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Common Goldeneyes, Mallards, Pied-billed Grebes, Ring-billed Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: American Coot, Anas platyrhynchos, Bucephala clangula, Common Goldeneye, coot, coots, diving ducks, duck, ducks, Fulica americana, goldeneye, goldeneyes, grebe, grebes, gull, gulls, Mallard, mallards, Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps, pond, water, winter|

Three years ago today though the ground was covered in drifts of snow, the temps were below freezing, there was ice on the ponds & lakes and there was a sharp briskness to the air that can only be found in winter.

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Laughing Gull White Balance Mess up and Fix

By Mia McPherson|October 19th, 2012|Categories: Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Laughing Gulls, White Balance adjustments|Tags: bird photography, birding, birds, Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, nature photography, Pinellas County, white balance issues, wildlife photography|

All photographers mess up, some times it is the focus, sometimes it is not having enough shutter speed for active subjects and sometimes a dial gets bumped and when it is not noticed it can affect all the images taken after it has been changed.

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Four years ago today at Fort De Soto

By Mia McPherson|October 17th, 2012|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Great Egrets, Laughing Gulls, Reddish Egrets|Tags: Ardea alba, bird photography, birding, egrets, Egretta rufescens, Great Egret, gulls, Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, Pinellas County, Reddish Egret, wading birds|

Just a few images taken 4 years ago today at Fort De Soto's north beach. It was not a super busy day but I did get quite a few images that I like.

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Ring-billed Gull On the Wing

By Mia McPherson|October 11th, 2012|Categories: Birds, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Ring-billed Gulls, Utah|Tags: Davis County, dive, flight, Larus delawarensis, nature photography, Ring-billed Gull, wildlife photography|

Yesterday I had a bit of fun photographing this Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) at Farmington Bay Wildlife Management Area, I love the snowy whites these gulls exhibit in their plumage year round

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Birds, Beasts and Bits About Me – My 500th Blog Post

By Mia McPherson|October 4th, 2012|Categories: Bald Eagles, Birds, Burrowing Owls, Coyotes, Dunlins, Florida, Laughing Gulls, Little Blue Herons, Loggerhead Shrikes, Pronghorn, Reddish Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills, Sanderlings, Utah|Tags: bird photography, bird watching, birding, birds, Coyote, Dunlin, Florida, Laughing Gull, Little Blue Heron, Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Harrier, Pronghorn, Pronghorn Antelope, Red-winged Blackbird, Reddish Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, Sanderling, white morph|

Wow, this is my 500th blog post and it has been great fun to share my images and the stories behind them. I thought I'd share a few images and bits about my thoughts on photography.

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California Gull – The Chase is On

By Mia McPherson|October 3rd, 2012|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Brine Flies, California Gulls, Utah|Tags: adult, bill, bird photography, brine flies, brine fly, California Gull, chasing, closing, Ephydra cinerea, Ephydra hians, feeding behavior, flies, Great Salt Lake, hypersaline, lake, Larus californicus, opening, run, scoop, surface, undulating wave, wings|

While my mother was visiting Utah she was able to see how California Gulls chase and feed on Brine Flies, it is fascinating feeding behavior. As my mom watched, I photographed.

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4 Years ago today when Hurricane Ike stirred things up at Fort De Soto

By Mia McPherson|September 12th, 2012|Categories: Birds, Black Skimmers, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Laughing Gulls, Pinellas County, Reddish Egrets, Ring-billed Gulls, Willets|Tags: bird photography, Black Skimmer, Egmont Key, egret, egrets, Egretta rufescens, Gulf of Mexico, gull, gulls, Hurricane Ike, Larus delawarensis, Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, Reddish Egret, Ring-billed Gull, Rynchops niger, skimmer, Tringa semipalmata, wading birds, waves, Willet|

Four years ago today Hurricane Ike was out in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico and the waves that it generated made a strong splash at Fort De Soto County Park.

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Bathing Laughing Gull in breeding plumage

By Mia McPherson|September 2nd, 2012|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Laughing Gulls, Pinellas County|Tags: adult, bath, bathing, breeding plumage, coast, coastal, eye contact, gull, gulls, lagoon, Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, water, wings|

I photographed this adult Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) in breeding plumage while it bathed in the shallow waters of a tidal lagoon at Fort De Soto's north beach a few years ago.

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