Urban California Gull in late winter – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Last week I spent a few minutes focused on photographing an urban California Gull in soft morning light at a pond close to home. The adult California Gull was in full breeding plumage and perched on a railing near the water. There were some clouds in the eastern sky that morning that diffused the light from the rising sun.
Over the winter I didn’t photograph the gulls at this pond as often as I would have liked to and now that it is spring the numbers of gulls at the pond have dwindled down to just a few California and Ring-billed Gulls. They don’t nest at this pond so most of the gulls have gone elsewhere to find suitable nesting habitat.
I appreciate the beauty of gulls. I also find them to be excellent subjects to have in my viewfinder any time of the year. If I have a choice I don’t drive or walk past them without taking at least a few photos.
Adult California Gull in soft morning light – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The soft diffused light made it easy for me to photograph this California Gull without blowing out the whites in its plumage.
What Is Up With Their Common Name?
I believe that California Gulls are a poorly named species. They live and breed in quite a few western states and Canada. They are Utah’s state bird. They are year round residents in northern Utah, parts of Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon and they aren’t most of California. They are not endemic to California. I believe that in order for a bird to have a state in their common name they should be endemic to that state. Or at least I believe it would be better if they were.
Now I am wondering what I would name a California Gull to remove the word California from their common name.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my California Gull photos plus facts and information about this species.
I really like the head tilt. Is there a Western Gull?
Thanks, April. Yes, there is already a Western Gull. Maybe Dark-eyed Gull would be a good name.
Ellie Bsby, where on earth could that be??? They Are beautful birds!)
They are beautiful birds. I often think that whoever was responsible for naming birds had their heads stuck in a place where the sun doesn’t shine…