By Mia McPherson, on May 12th, 2012% A little over a week ago I was photographing a perched Loggerhead Shrike on Antelope Island when I noticed a California Gull (Larus californicus) flying towards me with a bill full of something that didn’t look like food.
 California Gull with nesting material - Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/4000, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light As the gull came closer to me I could see that it was some type of vegetation and I knew then it had a bill full of nesting material. California Gulls nest nearby on Egg Island and that is the direction that the gull was flying towards. It was the first time I have been able to photograph a California Gull with nesting material so I was quite pleased. though I wish I had backed up my zoom all the way, I might have been able to fit the whole bird in the frame.
 Perched California Gull - Nikon D200, f8, 1/1250, ISO 400, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light I photographed this California Gull along the causeway to the island last year, it looks like it is in the middle of a molt because some of the feather on the wing are a touch ragged.
Mia
By Mia McPherson, on May 10th, 2012% Yes, poop happens. If there are birds there is poop. That is the straight poop… I mean scoop!
 Royal Tern, Florida Some birds poop in mid-air which it is always wise to have your mouth closed when photographing birds directly over your head. A wide-brimmed hat is kind of handy too. I’m glad this Royal Tern banked when it did or I might have gotten bombed.
 Killdeer, Utah Some shorebirds will leave the water to poop, I’ve noticed that American Avocets always exit the water when they need to pooh. Some shorebirds poop so fast you don’t even notice it. Even with a shutter speed of 1/1600 I could not freeze the motion of this Killdeer’s poop, they must be the “fast as lightning” poopers.
 Roseate Spoonbill, Florida I think that Roseate Spoonbills are Super Dooper Poopers, this bird looks like it grew an extra leg the stream of poop is so long!
Okay, enough talk about poop! (At least until the next Oh… Poop post)
Mia
By Mia McPherson, on April 23rd, 2012%  Reddish Egret being shadowed by Laughing Gulls - Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 320, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 135mm, natural light This image is a favorite of mine because it brings back memories of the day I created it. Way off shore there was a hurricane that stirred up the Gulf of Mexico as if it were a giant bathtub with huge waves. The waves pushed on shore battering the small fish found there and the birds were having a feeding frenzy.
There were two Reddish Egrets (Egretta rufescens) on the north beach of Fort De Soto that day and it was a blast to watch them race around catching the small fish. Shadowing the egret were Laughing Gulls (Larus atricilla) hoping to scoop up any of the fish the egret might miss. Photographing the action was exhilarating, I could barely keep up with the Reddish Egret and the gulls and it was even harder to keep them in my viewfinder.
Yeah, it was a great day for bird photography!
Mia
By Mia McPherson, on April 12th, 2012%  Springtime California Gull Portrait - Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/4000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 258mm, natural light, not baited Yesterday while I was out photographing Long-billed Curlews this California Gull (Larus californicus) flew in so close that all I could do was take portraits of the bird. After a long holiday weekend and the abundance of campers on Antelope Island State Park, I’m fairly certain the bird was looking for a hand out. I could see other gulls scouring the campsites for any scraps of food left behind.
I like the out of focus, tiny pink wildflowers that are currently blanketing the grasslands of the island showing in the background, the snowy white plumage of the gull, the bits of oolitic sand on the bird’s bill and the brilliant colors of the gape, orbital ring and bill. I also rather enjoy being able to see the reflection of the fluffy clouds in the sky in the upper quadrant of the gull’s dark eye.
You’d think that Utah would have selected a different species for the State Bird given that the name of this species is the California Gull. I’ve written about why the California Gull was picked for the Utah State Bird here, it is an interesting story.
Mia
Oh, the Biting Gnats (no-see-ums) are back and bit me up yesterday. Grumble, grumble.
More California Gull images
By Mia McPherson, on April 8th, 2012% When I moved from Florida to Utah I felt it was fortunate that some of the nonbreeding birds I used to see in Florida during the winter I now get to see in breeding plumage on their nesting grounds.
 Nonbreeding Forster's Tern - Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light The image above shows a nonbreeding Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) that I photographed at Fort De Soto County Park in Florida during the month of February a few years ago. Note the dark bill and the dark mask with the pale nape on this bird.
 Breeding Forster's Tern on nest - Nikon D200, f8, 1/2000, ISO 320, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light The photograph above was taken at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge in Utah of an adult Forster’s Tern in breeding plumage on a nest that this bird and its mate were building. Note the black cap and how the bill is now orange with a distinct black tip.
I wish I would have been able to photograph the Forster’s Terns as they raised their young but this was taken the day before the Bear River closed the roads for construction that summer. It was a real pity too because this nest was not far from the gravel road of the auto tour route. Barring any unforeseen flooding this year the roads should remain open and I might just get the opportunity to photograph these graceful terns with their young.
Mia
More Forster’s Tern images
|
Photographing a Tricolored Heron from a tidal lagoon
Focusing on Wildlife Contributor
|
