{"id":118823,"date":"2023-12-08T03:38:53","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T10:38:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=118823"},"modified":"2024-01-13T04:10:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-13T11:10:07","slug":"california-gull-in-winter-plumage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/12\/08\/california-gull-in-winter-plumage\/","title":{"rendered":"California Gull In Winter Plumage"},"content":{"rendered":"

While I was at my local pond three days ago, I was happy to photograph this California Gull in winter plumage that had just landed on the water.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult California Gull in winter plumage \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

It had been a while since I had a California Gull in my viewfinder. I like gulls. Whether they are in flight, feeding, bathing, sleeping, or squabbling with each other, I think gulls are great subjects to photograph.<\/p>\n

One bit of advice I often give to new photographers who are trying to expand their ‘birds in flight’ skills is to find some gulls to practice on. Part of the reason I give that advice is that gulls are found across the country, and they often aren’t as skittish as some other birds.<\/p>\n

In addition to that, I think gulls are beautiful birds and they are fun to photograph.<\/p>\n

\"CaliforniaCalifornia Gull lifting off from a pond \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I was focused on this gull when it started to lift off from the surface of my local pond. From this photo alone, you might think that the gull was looking at me as it lifted off.<\/p>\n

\"CaliforniaCalifornia Gull taking flight in December \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

But outside of these last two frames was the reason why this gull took flight. What we can’t see in my photos is a Ring-billed Gull that was about to dive-bomb this California Gull. The Ring-billed Gull seemed really bothered that the California Gull<\/span><\/a> was in its space and chased it away from the pond.<\/p>\n

Through my lens, I get to see so many interesting avian behaviors. I love what I do.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my California Gull photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While I was at my local pond three days ago, I was happy to photograph this California Gull in winter plumage that had just landed on the water.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":118813,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27,520,709,26],"tags":[4004,970,4333,4642,4620,4052,3539,521,4230,4944,4246,10698,1984,13589,5428,8018,3996,5480],"class_list":["post-118823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-california-gulls","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-autumn","tag-california-gull","tag-definitive-basic-plumage","tag-fall","tag-flight","tag-gull","tag-gulls","tag-larus-californicus","tag-lifting-off","tag-nonbreeding-plumage","tag-park","tag-pond","tag-taking","tag-taking-off","tag-urban","tag-water","tag-winter-plumage"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/california-gull-winter-plumage-mia-mpherson-8918.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-uUv","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":119650,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/01\/13\/california-gull-a-misnamed-gull-species\/","url_meta":{"origin":118823,"position":0},"title":"California Gull – A Misnamed Gull Species","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"As I photographed a winter California Gull at my local pond two days ago, I thought about how these gulls are a misnamed species for the umpteenth time.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Portrait of a California Gull calling in spring, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/california-gull-calling-mia-mcpherson-2671.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/california-gull-calling-mia-mcpherson-2671.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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Comparison In Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Since I frequently get asked which is which I thought this would be a good time to do a winter California and American Herring Gull comparison and ID feature post.","rel":"","context":"In "American Herring Gulls"","block_context":{"text":"American Herring Gulls","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/gulls\/herring-gulls\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Herring Gull - California Gull Comparison and ID Features, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, 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Lake County Winter California Gull Portrait","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 25, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Two days ago this California Gull flew in and was so close to me that I felt I had to take portraits of it because the gull looked so handsome against the blue of the water.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Winter California Gull portrait, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-close-up-mia-mcpherson-7252.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-close-up-mia-mcpherson-7252.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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