This is a California Gull. It is common along the Pacific Coast in winter and inland in breeding season, nesting in large colonies on the prairies. During the breeding season it prefers barren islands on fresh, brackish or alkaline lakes, (such as Mono Lake in California or Great Salt Lake in Utah) shores of lakes or ponds and marshes. Preferred nesting sites have sparse vegetation with the nest a scrape on the ground in elevated, boulder-strewn areas. The clutch size is from 1 to 3 eggs. The incubation period is about 25 days. It takes the young about 45 days to fledge. There is one brood per year. Diet consists of insects, carrion, aquatic invertebrates, earthworms, young birds, fish and rodents. When they migrate to the California coast, add garbage. Have you ever tried to photograph one in flight? I've never had much success but it never stopped me from trying get a good well-focused shot. This bird landed on the balcony of my room while I was staying in Brandon, Oregon. He sat patiently while I photographed him several times while he sat there. He seemed to enjoy the act. He finally flew off and circled around and around in front of me as though he wanted to let me get that illusive shot of a gull in flight and in focus. I followed him around and finally thought that the moment had arrived and this is the photo. Voila'!
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