California Gulls - Photo by Bob Boekelheide

June is the time of year when immature California Gulls begin to gather in coastal Clallam County. This is a prelude to the summer and early fall migration of thousands of California Gulls who fly past our shores on their way to California for the winter.

Right now adult California Gulls are nesting in the interior of western North America, at places like Alberta, Montana, and Utah. They nest in colonies, building their nest on the ground in the open or at the base of a small shrub.

As these gulls age they go through transitions in appearance:

In their first year, California Gulls are mottled brown and white with a black-tipped pink bill and pinkish legs.

Second-year California Gulls are also mottled brown but begin to show gray on the back. They have a dark eye and bluish legs.
Third-year gulls look very similar to adults, which are are white-headed (non-breeding adults have brown streaks) with a medium gray back, yellow legs, and a dark eye.
Breeding adults have a yellow bill with small black ring and a red spot on the lower mandible.

Within another month, keep your eyes open for the arrival of the adult California Gulls!