Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
The aptly named Western Gull is strictly a resident of the west coast of the USA, north to southern British Columbia and south to the northern Pacific coast of Baja California. In the northern end of its range, these birds frequently interbreed with Glaucous-Winged Gulls.
These large west coast gulls are among the most prominent gull species we see along the USA’ Pacific coast. However, because their range is restricted to the narrowest bands along the coastline, their population is smaller than most North American gulls. Estimates of their population are about 40,000 pairs, with only about 200 nesting sites total. Most of their nesting takes place on islands off the Pacific coast, with 30% breeding on Southeast Farallon Island.
The Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) of the Sea of Cortez in the Gulf of California (Mexico) was formerly considered a subspecies of the Western Gull, but is now considered a separate species. There are but two subspecies of Western Gull recognised by today’s taxonomists:
- L. o. occidentalis is considered the northern member of this family. They live from central California to Washington and are usually larger than their cousins.
- L. o. wymani is the southern member of this clan. They live from Monterey Bay in central California south to Baja California and Guadalupe Island (Mexico).
It takes four years for Western Gulls to reach adulthood. As they age, they transform from gray-brown juveniles to their first-year, second-year and third-year plumages; all considerably different from their earlier garments, and nothing like their elegant adult feathering. I’m better at seeing their differences than I used to be, but aging gulls is not my strongest subject.
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45 Photos
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 10:02 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/4 |
File Name: D3X4645-WesternGull |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 10:03 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/5 |
File Name: D3X4646-WesternGull |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 10:05 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/5 |
File Name: D3X4648-WesternGull |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:02:16 13:54 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X7175-WesternGull |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Hatch year bird near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:10 12:02 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: jcd0477WesternGull |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Hatch year bird near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:10 15:11 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: jcd0869WesternGull |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:19 7:24 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: jcd1104WesternGull |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: First winter bird. Open Ocean, off shore from Mission Beach and La Jolla, California. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:01 11:37 |
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Location:
Off Shore |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD4556.WesternGull |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2011:04:14 9:18 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD7167_WesternGull |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Image captured from a day at the La Jolla Cove. San Diego County California 2011-04-14. |
Date Taken: 2011:04:14 9:23 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD7194_WesternGull |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2011:04:20 14:44 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD7462-WesternGull |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2011:04:20 14:51 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD7513-WesternGull |
| © 2011 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Chumming gulls with popcorn attracts other birds. Open Ocean, off shore from Mission Beach and La Jolla, California. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:01 11:25 |
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Location:
The Muirlands |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 200 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD8573.WesternGull |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Near La Jolla Cove. San Diego, California. (The date of Dec. 12 has been questioned, due to the age of the juviniles.) |
Date Taken: 2000:12:10 7:54 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A0L10a15WesternGull |
| © 2000 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:05 10:16 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X3426-WesternGull |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Juvenile bird loafing near the mouth of the Chetco River in Brookings Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:09 12:48 |
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Location:
Harbor |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGull-Juvenile_D5X0892-BrookingsHarbor |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: On our third day aboard the Shugun, bound for San Roque and Isla Acencion, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:11 13:32 |
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Location:
Isla Asunción |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: WesternGull_D5X5080 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: On our third day aboard the Shugun, bound for San Roque and Isla Acencion, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:11 13:22 |
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Location:
Isla Asunción |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/8000 |
File Name: WesternGull_D5X5025 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Airborne birds were easy pickin's at the South Jetty of the Rogue River in Gold Beach Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:09 9:27 |
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Location:
South Jetty |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: WesternGull_D5X0775-GoldBeach-Oregon |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Apparently tiring of being pestered for food, this adult chases away a fledgling. Early morning at the La Jolla Cove. San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2018:07:15 8:16 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: WesternGull-_D504418-LaJolla |
| © 2018 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: This adult gull found a prize. The channel entering Morro Bay is a great place to meet Sea Otters and many birds. San Juis Obisbo County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:17 9:28 |
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Location:
Morro Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: WesternGull_D5X4204-MorroBay |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: First year bird at the Tijuana River Mouth, Imperial Beach, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:06:24 8:30 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: D3X0010-WesternGull-1stWinter |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Breeding adult at the Tijuana River Mouth, Imperial Beach, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:06:24 8:28 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: D3X9996-WesternGull-Breeding |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Fledglings anticipating a meal in the early morning at the La Jolla Cove. San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2018:07:15 9:11 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: WesternGull-ParentFeeding-Fledgling_D504592-LaJolla |
| © 2018 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: On our third day aboard the Shugun, bound for San Roque and Isla Acencion, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:11 13:27 |
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Location:
Isla Asunción |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: WesternGull_D5X5078 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Juvenile bird. Our beach at the border with Mexico can be a productive place to meet birdlife. Imperial Beach, California in San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 15:15 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: WesternGull-Juvenile_D5X9265-BorderField |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Western Gulls of all ages sailed overhead wherever I looked. This visit to San Luis Harbor was only my second since 2019-July. Again, it proved to be a worthwhile stop on my trip along California’s central coast. |
Date Taken: 2022:02:28 14:03 |
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Location:
Port San Luis |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: WesternGull_8500212-SanLuisHarbor |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Western Gulls are ever-present over most of the west coast of the USA. One of my favorite regions to explore is California’s central coast. Always a favorite stop for me in Morro Bay, is the inlet at the north end of the bay. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:01 16:04 |
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Location:
Morro Rock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGull_8501976-MorroBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Western Gulls are ever-present over most of the west coast of the USA. One of my favorite regions to explore is California’s central coast. Always a favorite stop for me in Morro Bay, is the inlet at the north end of the bay. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:01 12:43 |
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Location:
Morro Rock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: WesternGull_8501510-MorroBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Western Gulls of all ages sailed overhead wherever I looked. This visit to San Luis Harbor was only my second since 2019-July. Again, it proved to be a worthwhile stop on my trip along California’s central coast. |
Date Taken: 2022:02:28 14:46 |
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Location:
Port San Luis |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGull_8500444-SanLuisHarbor |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Western Gulls of all ages sailed overhead wherever I looked. This visit to San Luis Harbor was only my second since 2019-July. Again, it proved to be a worthwhile stop on my trip along California’s central coast. |
Date Taken: 2022:02:28 14:46 |
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Location:
Port San Luis |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGull_8500430-SanLuisHarbor |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: From the lookout high above Roosevelt Beach, and the Steller’s Sea Lion colony below, Western Gulls would sail by so close I could almost touch them. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:02 15:57 |
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Location:
Roosevelt Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGull_8500298-RooseveltBeach |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: This Western Gull on Yaquina Bay seems to be a pretty fair example of a “second winter” bird. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:03 10:59 |
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Location:
South Yaquina Bay Jetty |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGull_8500666-SouthYaquinaBayJetty |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: When I began my watch for birds in the morning at Sekiu Bay (Washington), it should come as no surprise that gulls were among the most approachable birds on the bay, |
Date Taken: 2022:04:10 13:40 |
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Location:
Sekiu Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGull_8501902-SekiuBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: When I began my watch for birds in the morning at Sekiu Bay (Washington), it should come as no surprise that gulls were among the most approachable birds on the bay, |
Date Taken: 2022:04:10 13:41 |
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Location:
Sekiu Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGull_8501916-SekiuBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Western Gulls of all ages sailed overhead wherever I looked. This visit to San Luis Harbor was only my second since 2019-July. Again, it proved to be a worthwhile stop on my trip along California’s central coast. |
Date Taken: 2022:02:28 14:18 |
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Location:
Port San Luis |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGull_8500332-SanLuisHarbor |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: First year bird at the South Jetty of the Rogue River in Gold Beach Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:09 9:02 |
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Location:
South Jetty |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: WesternGull_D5X0518-GoldBeach-Oregon |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: 2018-12-17: At the Cove in La Jolla. San Diego County, California (USA) |
Date Taken: 2018:12:17 12:18 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: WesternGull_D505340-La-Jolla-Cove |
| © 2018 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: These young gulls were closely watching the ravenous otters, hoping for an opportunity to catch a scrap. Lagoon at the mouth of the Klamath River. Klamath California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:12 15:52 |
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Location:
Klamath River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGull-Juvenile_D5X1968-KlamathRiver-Mouth |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Charleston Boat Basin, near Coos Bay Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:07 9:22 |
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Location:
Charleston |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: WesternGull_D5X9577-Charleston-BoatBasin |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: These appear to be first year birds. Seen on the first and second days of the expedition to Archipiélago de Revillagigedo on board the Shogun. Between Ensenada, San Roque and Acencion, Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:10 13:24 |
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Location:
Off Shore |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: WesternGull_D5X4541 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: On land at Isla Margarita for a half day of science and explorations. Our forth day of this expedition to Archipielago de Revillagigedo aboard the Shogun. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:12 15:52 |
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Location:
La Curva |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/3200 |
File Name: WesternGull_D5X5888 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: On the advice from a local photographer, I visited a location new to me in the region around the mouth of the Eel River. At the bridge to Cockrobin Island, most of the gulls and dabbling ducks kept their distance. This first year gull flew in to investigate the area while I visited. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:10 15:20 |
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Location:
Port Kenyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGull_8505092-Loleta |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: When I began my watch for birds in the morning at Sekiu Bay (Washington), it should come as no surprise that gulls were among the most approachable birds on the bay, |
Date Taken: 2022:04:10 13:42 |
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Location:
Sekiu Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGull_8501924-SekiuBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: When I began my watch for birds in the morning at Sekiu Bay (Washington), it should come as no surprise that gulls were among the most approachable birds on the bay, |
Date Taken: 2022:04:10 13:42 |
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Location:
Sekiu Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGull_8501932-SekiuBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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