{"id":55594,"date":"2019-01-09T05:37:33","date_gmt":"2019-01-09T12:37:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=55594"},"modified":"2025-08-06T05:04:37","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T10:04:37","slug":"one-legged-ring-billed-gull-landing-on-an-icy-pond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/01\/09\/one-legged-ring-billed-gull-landing-on-an-icy-pond\/","title":{"rendered":"One legged Ring-billed Gull Landing On An Icy Pond"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"OneOne legged Ring-billed Gull about to land – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/3200, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Because I am out in the field so often and see so many birds of different species there are instances when I see birds with physical disabilities, some caused by man and some caused by nature.<\/p>\n

I’ve seen birds missing an eye, missing one foot or the entire leg and I’ve seen birds with beak deformities. Some of those birds do quite well despite their physical problems, they seem to adapt.<\/p>\n

On January 2nd I noticed a Ring-billed Gull coming in for a landing on an iced over pond that was missing a leg and foot and I wondered how well it would handle the slippery ice while attempting to land on it. In this photo it was just about to touch down on the icy pond.<\/p>\n

\"OneOne legged Ring-billed Gull landing on ice – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/3200, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

In this photo the one legged Ring-billed Gull had touched down on the iced over pond and was using its wings to maintain its balance but it had not stopped its forward motion on the ice. The gull was still sliding forward.<\/p>\n

\"OneOne legged Ring-billed Gull sliding on ice after landing – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/3200, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

In this frame the one legged Ring-billed Gull had just about stopped sliding in the slippery ice and was using its wings to slow its momentum.<\/p>\n

Almost immediately after this photo was taken another gull landed in front of this one and obstructed a clear view of the bird so I wasn’t able to get photos of it standing on its one good leg on the icy pond.<\/p>\n

I really am in awe of how birds and other wildlife can adapt to physical limitations and not just survive but thrive.<\/p>\n

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

Mia<\/p>\n

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

On January 2nd I noticed a Ring-billed Gull coming in for a landing on an iced over pond that was missing a leg and foot and I wondered how well it would handle the slippery ice while attempting to land on it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":151684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_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":""},"categories":[27,410,709,26],"tags":[3539,521,4064,6241,4123,4264,6931,1984,4468,5493,373],"class_list":["post-55594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-ring-billed-gulls","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-gull","tag-gulls","tag-ice","tag-icy","tag-landing","tag-larus-delawarensis","tag-one-legged","tag-pond","tag-ring-billed-gull","tag-sliding","tag-winter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-one-legged-landing-mia-mcpherson-8579.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-esG","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":64929,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/02\/21\/ring-billed-gull-landing-on-crystal-blue-water\/","url_meta":{"origin":55594,"position":0},"title":"Ring-billed Gull Landing On Crystal Blue Water","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 21, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"While looking through my photos from two years ago today I came across images of this Ring-billed Gull coming in for a landing and thought the gull looked perfect 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":"Ring-billed Gull flying in to land on crystal blue water, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ring-billed-gull-blue-water-mia-mpcherson-3526.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ring-billed-gull-blue-water-mia-mpcherson-3526.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ring-billed-gull-blue-water-mia-mpcherson-3526.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ring-billed-gull-blue-water-mia-mpcherson-3526.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55714,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/01\/16\/ring-billed-gull-drinking-water-from-an-icy-pond\/","url_meta":{"origin":55594,"position":1},"title":"Focusing On A Ring-billed Gull Drinking Water From An Icy Pond","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I removed the \"Just A\" from the title for this post and added \"Focusing On A\" instead. Why? Because I was focused on observing and photographing this Ring-billed Gull drinking from an icy pond and I'm happy to say that I was.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ring-billed Gull drinking from an icy pond, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-drinking-mia-mcpherson-9206.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-drinking-mia-mcpherson-9206.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-drinking-mia-mcpherson-9206.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-drinking-mia-mcpherson-9206.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44240,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/01\/05\/ring-billed-gulls-bathing-on-new-years-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":55594,"position":2},"title":"Ring-billed Gulls Bathing on New Year’s Day","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 5, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Ring-billed Gulls up close to me were bathing frequently so I focused on them for a bit to catch them splashing and dipping their heads and bodies into the water.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ring-billed Gull bathing in winter, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ring-billed-gull-bathing-mia-mcpherson-0417.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ring-billed-gull-bathing-mia-mcpherson-0417.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ring-billed-gull-bathing-mia-mcpherson-0417.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ring-billed-gull-bathing-mia-mcpherson-0417.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49939,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/12\/17\/ring-billed-gulls-flying-in-a-december-snow-storm\/","url_meta":{"origin":55594,"position":3},"title":"Ring-billed Gulls Flying in a December Snow Storm","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The light wasn't great when I photographed these Ring-billed Gulls flying in a December snow storm but I had a great time with the gulls and the rest of the birds.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Ring-billed Gull flying in a snow storm, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-flight-snow-mia-mcpherson-5867.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-flight-snow-mia-mcpherson-5867.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-flight-snow-mia-mcpherson-5867.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-flight-snow-mia-mcpherson-5867.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48749,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/10\/03\/winter-ring-billed-gull-adult\/","url_meta":{"origin":55594,"position":4},"title":"Winter Ring-billed Gull Adult","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 3, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I photographed this adult Ring-billed Gull last winter at my local pond and loved the snow in the frame, the muted colors of the gull's plumage and the pops of color in the eye and bill of the gull.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Winter Ring-billed Gull, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-snow-mia-mcpherson-6602.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-snow-mia-mcpherson-6602.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-snow-mia-mcpherson-6602.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ring-billed-gull-snow-mia-mcpherson-6602.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":62602,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/01\/13\/winter-ring-billed-gulls-from-low-light-to-afternoon-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":55594,"position":5},"title":"Winter Ring-billed Gulls – From Low Light To Afternoon Light","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 13, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I can't say that I prefer one of these Ring-billed Gull images over the other, the low light image is as appealing to me as the one I took in afternoon light. I enjoy them both.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Winter Ring-billed Gull eating snow, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ring-billed-gull-drinking-snow-mia-mcpherson-1871.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ring-billed-gull-drinking-snow-mia-mcpherson-1871.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ring-billed-gull-drinking-snow-mia-mcpherson-1871.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ring-billed-gull-drinking-snow-mia-mcpherson-1871.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\/55594","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=55594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55594\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/151684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}