{"id":4594,"date":"2012-03-05T05:16:08","date_gmt":"2012-03-05T12:16:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=4594"},"modified":"2021-07-25T11:11:23","modified_gmt":"2021-07-25T17:11:23","slug":"franklins-gulls-feeding-frenzy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/03\/05\/franklins-gulls-feeding-frenzy\/","title":{"rendered":"Franklin’s Gulls ~ Feeding Frenzy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last year while I was camping and photographing at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge<\/span><\/a> I saw a feeding frenzy that involved Franklin’s and California Gulls in the flooded grasses and Sagebrush flats near the Lower Lake.<\/p>\n

\"ForagingForaging Franklin’s Gulls – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/2500, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

There were hundreds of breeding plumage Franklin’s Gulls (Leucophaeus pipixcan<\/span><\/em>) in the field hovering, wading in the standing water and foraging. I still don’t know what it was they were feasting on.<\/p>\n

\"Hovering Hovering Franklin’s Gull – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/1500, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

None of my images from that day show prey in the bill so my thoughts are that there could have been an insect hatch or perhaps there were tadpoles\u00a0in the flooded flats. I should have gotten out of the pickup and scanned the water to see what\u00a0the prey\u00a0was.<\/p>\n

The photo above shows the rosy pink wash that Franklin’s Gull have on their chest and belly when they are in breeding plumage.\u00a0 This is actually in the feather structure\u00a0there, not “on” them.<\/p>\n

\"Franklin'sFranklin’s Gull in flight – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1\/200, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR at 200mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I hope to see and photograph another feeding frenzy with the Franklin’s Gulls, if I do I will do my best to find out what prey item causes it.<\/p>\n

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

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Franklin\u2019s Gull photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n

For more information on why I love Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge click here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last year while I was camping and photographing at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge I saw a feeding frenzy that involved Franklin’s and California Gulls in the flooded grasses and Sagebrush flats near the Lower Lake.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15978,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,1336,12,608],"tags":[4004,4053,4040,4227,4052,4122,4136,4329,3539,521,4174,4330,165,5434,5271],"class_list":["post-4594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-franklins-gulls","category-montana","category-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge","tag-adult","tag-breeding-plumage","tag-feeding","tag-feeding-frenzy","tag-flight","tag-flying","tag-foraging","tag-franklins-gull","tag-gull","tag-gulls","tag-hovering-2","tag-leucophaeus-pipixcan","tag-spring","tag-valley","tag-wet-meadow"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/franklins-gull-flight-montana-mia-mcpherson-2668.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-1c6","jetpack_sharing_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":56437,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/03\/06\/early-franklins-gull-at-bear-river-mbr-on-march-6-2018\/","url_meta":{"origin":4594,"position":0},"title":"Early Franklin’s Gull at Bear River MBR on March 6, 2018","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 6, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"While I had the Sandhill Crane and the Ring-billed Gulls in my view finder I heard a call and it only took a second for my brain to figure out that I was hearing a Franklin's Gull which surprised me because it was at the refuge much earlier than I\u2026","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":"Early Franklin's Gull at Bear River MBR - March 6, 2018, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/franklins-gull-early-arrival-sandhill-crane-mia-mcpherson-7237.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/franklins-gull-early-arrival-sandhill-crane-mia-mcpherson-7237.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/franklins-gull-early-arrival-sandhill-crane-mia-mcpherson-7237.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/franklins-gull-early-arrival-sandhill-crane-mia-mcpherson-7237.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39116,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/05\/02\/franklins-gull-and-laughing-gull-comparison\/","url_meta":{"origin":4594,"position":1},"title":"Franklin’s Gull and Laughing Gull Comparison","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 2, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I know this isn't a complete Franklin's Gull and Laughing Gull comparison but I'm not a scientist, just a bird photographer and bird lover.","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":"Franklin's Gull chasing Brine flies, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/franklins-gull-feeding-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-8201.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/franklins-gull-feeding-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-8201.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/franklins-gull-feeding-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-8201.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/franklins-gull-feeding-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-8201.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":115595,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/09\/03\/franklins-gull-images-better-late-than-never\/","url_meta":{"origin":4594,"position":2},"title":"Franklin’s Gull Images – Better Late Than Never","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 3, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"I took these Franklin's Gull images at Farmington Bay WMA nearly a year ago. I suppose it's better late than never to share the photos with you all today.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Franklin's Gull swallowing a fish, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/franklins-gull-pond-mia-mcpherson-2165.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/franklins-gull-pond-mia-mcpherson-2165.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/franklins-gull-pond-mia-mcpherson-2165.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/franklins-gull-pond-mia-mcpherson-2165.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5406,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/07\/27\/immature-franklins-gulls\/","url_meta":{"origin":4594,"position":3},"title":"Immature Franklin’s Gulls","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 27, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I like gulls, I know that gulls are not always a popular subject for many bird photographers and that they will often pass them by but to me they are as delightful, beautiful and fascinating as any other bird.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Juvenile Franklin's Gulls","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/franklins-gulls-juveniles-mia-mcpherson-2764.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/franklins-gulls-juveniles-mia-mcpherson-2764.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/franklins-gulls-juveniles-mia-mcpherson-2764.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/franklins-gulls-juveniles-mia-mcpherson-2764.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48940,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/10\/14\/franklins-gulls-at-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":4594,"position":4},"title":"Franklin’s Gulls at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 14, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Franklin's Gulls are only here in northern Utah during the breeding season, during the winter they spend their time along the west coast of South America.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Juvenile Franklin's Gull on the wing, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/franklins-gull-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-6690.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/franklins-gull-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-6690.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/franklins-gull-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-6690.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/franklins-gull-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-6690.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48366,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/09\/06\/franklins-and-ring-billed-gulls-flying-in-smoky-skies\/","url_meta":{"origin":4594,"position":5},"title":"Franklin’s and Ring-billed Gulls Flying in Smoky Skies","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 6, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I did take some nice Franklin's and Ring-billed Gull photos in flight over the water of the marshes at the refuge despite the smoky sky.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Franklin's Gull flying in a smoky sky","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/franklins-gull-smokey-sky-mia-mcpherson-0860.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/franklins-gull-smokey-sky-mia-mcpherson-0860.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/franklins-gull-smokey-sky-mia-mcpherson-0860.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/franklins-gull-smokey-sky-mia-mcpherson-0860.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4594\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}