Gulls at La Jolla

In addition to the pelicans Greg and I found in La Jolla last week (see post 1 and post 2), there were also a lot of western gulls (Larus occidentalis) on the cliffs. While the pelicans are a bit showier, I think the gulls are every bit as gorgeous:

This western gull (Larus occidentalis) is standing in front of a rock on a coastal cliff with the blue ocean visibile blurred in the background.  Getting the proper exposure to bring out the detail in their white feathers was non-trivial!  Note: a small piece of debris on the bird's feathers was digitally removed; I can provide an unedited version of the image if needed/desired. (Marc C. Perkins)
Western gull: standing by the sea.

With the gulls I also wanted to try something a bit more landscape-ish, putting them in context with the sloping oceanside cliffs leading to a sea of blue. I’m happiest with this attempt:

This western gull (Larus occidentalis) is sitting on a rock in front of a coastal cliff with the blue ocean and sky visibile blurred in the background.  Getting the proper exposure to bring out the detail in their white feathers was non-trivial! (Marc C. Perkins)
Western gull: relaxing morning on the ocean cliffs.

After our morning with the birds we photographed seals and lighthouses, but those pictures will have to wait for another post.

More pictures

To see more pictures from the day, head to my Birds: Pelicans and gulls gallery

Getting There

La Jolla Cove Cliffs: This location doesn’t have an official name as far as I can tell, but it’s accessed from a small parking lot on the right side of Coast Blvd. in La Jolla (San Diego, CA), just after Coast Blvd. branches off from Prospect Place. The best I can do for you is give you GPS coordinates: N 32.84936 W 117.27038. Parking at the location is highly limited (and has a 2-hour max during the day), but it’s a short walk from other parking areas in La Jolla and the lot was virtually empty when I got there half an hour before sunrise on a weekday. The cliffs are accessed from a stairway that descends from the parking lot; be careful to stay well back from the edge, as the cliffs are steep and venturing too far forward will scare the birds away and prevent them from landing.

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