Picture of the week

Golden gull

A California gull perched on a rock in the American River at sunrise. 

Photographed with backlighting from the sunrise through the mist rising above the river's surface.  I visited one of my favorite local locations at the Upper Sunrise area along the American River Parkway to catch some images of some morning wildlife.  With the salmon run now in full swing, the seasonal bird species have arrived with them, including this gull above and numerous diving ducks such as buffleheads and goldeneyes.  With the river levels still running quite low, it is possible to reach an island gravel bar that provides some of the best angles for the sun without the need for waders.