{"id":4606,"date":"2012-03-08T05:11:08","date_gmt":"2012-03-08T12:11:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=4606"},"modified":"2025-06-08T06:02:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T11:02:04","slug":"california-gull-on-a-windy-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/03\/08\/california-gull-on-a-windy-day\/","title":{"rendered":"California Gull On A Windy Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday morning a light snow had covered most of Antelope Island<\/span><\/a>\u00a0while the normally lovely blue of the Great Salt Lake was instead a grayish brown because gale force winds were churning it up and there were white caps as far I could see. The lake is very shallow so it doesn’t take much wave action to stir up the sand, mud and particulates.<\/p>\n

\"ChoppyChoppy waters in the Great Salt Lake – Nikon D200, handheld, f16, 1\/1500, ISO 400, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 48mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

This image taken from the Egg Island Overlook shows the choppy waters on the Great Salt Lake caused by the strong winds. Most of the birds on the island seemed to have hunkered down to escape the wind and even the ever-present Horned Larks couldn’t be found perching on rocks and sightings of meadowlarks singing on the tops of sagebrush were few and far between.<\/p>\n

\"CaliforniaCalifornia Gull in flight – Nikkor D300, f8, 1\/3200, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

There were large flocks of California Gulls (Larus californicus<\/em>) along the shoreline bobbing in the waves.<\/p>\n

This California Gull in flight was being buffeted by the wind, I had trouble keeping my lens steady because of it too. I was almost glad to head home to get the sound of the howling wind out of my ears… almost<\/em>. I don’t ever seem to get my fill of the island though.<\/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":"

This California Gull in flight was being buffeted by the wind, I had trouble keeping my lens steady because of it too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":147982,"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":[511,27,520,26],"tags":[4004,4053,8246,4333,4332,4052,4122,1342,4005,3539,521,4230,519,526,5361,1193,373],"class_list":["post-4606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-avian","category-california-gulls","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-breeding-plumage","tag-buffeted","tag-california-gull","tag-choppy-waters","tag-flight","tag-flying","tag-gale-force","tag-great-salt-lake","tag-gull","tag-gulls","tag-larus-californicus","tag-nature","tag-utah-state-bird","tag-wind","tag-windy","tag-winter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-mia-mcpherson-7036.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-1ci","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":4606,"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, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/california-gull-calling-mia-mcpherson-2671.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/california-gull-calling-mia-mcpherson-2671.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59431,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/08\/11\/imagine-utah-without-california-gulls\/","url_meta":{"origin":4606,"position":1},"title":"Imagine Utah Without California Gulls","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 11, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Ah, Mia, it is just a bird. No, it isn't just a bird. Because California Gulls aren't the only birds at risk of disappearing from the skies, shorelines and waters of Utah.","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":"Adult California Gull chasing brine flies next to the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gulls-chasing-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-2469.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-gulls-chasing-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-2469.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gulls-chasing-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-2469.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gulls-chasing-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-2469.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7827,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/03\/11\/the-brine-fly-buffet-begins-on-the-great-salt-lake\/","url_meta":{"origin":4606,"position":2},"title":"The Brine Fly Buffet begins on the Great Salt Lake","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"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.","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":"First of the year Brine Flies, Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-0280.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-0280.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-0280.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/brine-flies-mia-mcpherson-0280.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6248,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/10\/03\/california-gull-the-chase-is-on\/","url_meta":{"origin":4606,"position":3},"title":"California Gull – The Chase is On","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 3, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"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.","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":"California Gull gobbling up Brine Flies at the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-mia-mcpherson-6389.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-mia-mcpherson-6389.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-mia-mcpherson-6389.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-mia-mcpherson-6389.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14597,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/03\/22\/a-california-gull-on-the-wing\/","url_meta":{"origin":4606,"position":4},"title":"California Gull On The Wing","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 22, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Photographing this California Gull on the wing was a highlight of my morning the day I took this photo. I love to photograph gulls.","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":"California Gull on the wing, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-8153.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-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-8153.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-8153.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-8153.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3020,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/08\/31\/california-gulls-feeding-on-the-brine-flies-of-the-great-salt-lake\/","url_meta":{"origin":4606,"position":5},"title":"California Gulls feeding on the Brine Flies of the Great Salt Lake","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 31, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"A few days ago I had the opportunity to take images of California Gulls feeding on brine flies along shoreline of the Great Salt Lake next to the causeway to Antelope Island","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":"One California Gull actively feeding, the other is passively feeding on brine flies. Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/california-gull-5489-munching-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/california-gull-5489-munching-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/california-gull-5489-munching-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/california-gull-5489-munching-brine-flies-mia-mcpherson.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\/4606","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=4606"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4606\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}