American Avocets

American Avocets are large, graceful shorebirds with long, upturned black bills, black and white plumage with rusty or white heads. The black plumage can also look brownish.

Flock Of American Avocets At Farmington Bay

By |2024-02-28T10:18:34-07:00February 28th, 2024|Categories: American Avocets, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my last trip to Farmington Bay WMA, I was delighted to have a resting flock of American Avocets in my viewfinder. Seeing these shorebirds delights me.

Springtime Grebe And Avocet Portraits

By |2023-05-03T03:26:22-06:00May 3rd, 2023|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Western Grebes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning I am sharing two springtime portraits that I took last week at Bear River MBR. The first is a Western Grebe, the second, an American Avocet.

Snow Weary And Needing A Bird Fix

By |2023-03-31T04:26:28-06:00March 31st, 2023|Categories: American Avocets, Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Marsh Wrens, Red-winged Blackbirds, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

More fresh snow on the ground this morning. I am snow weary. What I need is a bird, nature, gone exploring in the wild fix with no real or clear return time.

Spring American Avocets At Bear River MBR

By |2024-02-28T04:23:11-07:00April 28th, 2021|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

At the end of last month I spotted a small flock of American Avocets early in the morning at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

Adult Male American Avocet Stretching His Wings

By |2024-02-28T04:27:00-07:00April 20th, 2020|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Six years ago in early April I went to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and photographed this male American Avocet stretching his wings while his head was low to the water.

American Avocet and Black-necked Stilt Chicks at Bear River MBR

By |2022-10-02T06:51:51-06:00July 13th, 2019|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-necked Stilts, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I spent part of my morning yesterday photographing American Avocet and Black-necked Stilt chicks from the auto tour route at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and it was a blast watching these young shorebirds.

American Avocet Chicks Have Hatched At Bear River MBR

By |2021-04-29T04:16:03-06:00June 26th, 2019|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Three days ago I was tickled to finally see some American Avocet chicks on the marsh at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, I've been waiting to see these little puff balls this year!

Highlights Of My Bird Photography Trip Yesterday to Bear River MBR

By |2023-10-02T17:07:31-06:00June 3rd, 2019|Categories: American Avocets, American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Box Elder County, Double-crested Cormorants, Long-tailed Weasels, Snowy Plovers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When a bird photography trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge starts with me spotting not just one but two Snowy Plovers out on the flats I just know the day is off to a great start and that is what happened yesterday morning.

Some Of The Birds Seen At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge During The Month of May

By |2024-03-19T03:44:00-06:00May 19th, 2019|Categories: American Avocets, American Bitterns, American Coots, American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Blue-winged Teals, Box Elder County, Brown-headed Cowbirds, California Gulls, Cinnamon Teals, Clark's Grebes, Cliff Swallows, Forster's Terns, Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitchers, Marsh Wrens, Northern Shovelers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Ruddy Ducks, Savannah Sparrows, Tree Swallows, Utah, Western Grebes, White-faced Ibises, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

May is a time of renewal at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and as the marsh begins to green up the migrant birds return and along with the year round residents their songs and calls can be heard over the wetlands.

Foraging American Avocets in Breeding Plumage

By |2021-04-29T04:20:51-06:00April 30th, 2018|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Eight days ago it was sunny and bright and I was out having fun photographing a pair of foraging American Avocets in breeding plumage at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah.

American Avocets, American White Pelicans and Sandhill Cranes Have Returned

By |2021-04-29T03:42:35-06:00February 11th, 2018|Categories: American Avocets, American White Pelicans, Birds, Sandhill Cranes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I'm excited that the American Avocets, American White Pelicans and Sandhill Cranes have returned to northern Utah because I look forward to seeing and photographing them again.

American Avocet with Two Different Backgrounds

By |2021-04-29T04:23:30-06:00May 7th, 2017|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

I'm happy with both images of this female American Avocet but I think I prefer the second image more because the reflections of the water add a sense of depth and more visual interest that I find lacking in the first photo.

Nesting American Avocets at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |2021-04-29T04:18:46-06:00April 24th, 2017|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The pair of American Avocets were feeding in the grasses and the water right next to the edge of the grasses when I first saw them then the female squatted down on what I presume to be their nest.

Missing the Birds of Bear River MBR & Spring Migration

By |2023-03-11T08:31:12-07:00April 9th, 2017|Categories: American Avocets, American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Box Elder County, Clark's Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants, Long-billed Dowitchers, Short-eared Owls, Utah, Wilson's Phalaropes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge auto tour route is still closed and many of the birders, bird photographers and nature lovers are itching to know what birds are there because after all spring migration is an exciting time at the refuge.

Late Migrating American Avocets in Utah

By |2021-04-29T04:25:53-06:00November 12th, 2016|Categories: American Avocets, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Most of the American Avocets have migrated away from northern Utah but most years we can have a few stragglers that haven't migrated by this time of the year

Birds of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge – Celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week

By |2023-12-17T05:34:28-07:00October 9th, 2016|Categories: American Avocets, American White Pelicans, Bald Eagles, Barn Owls, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Black-necked Stilts, Box Elder County, Redheads, Rough-legged Hawks, Sandhill Cranes, Tree Swallows, Tundra Swans, Utah, Virginia Rails, Western Grebes, White-faced Ibises|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This is National Wildlife Refuge Week and in celebration I wanted to do a pictorial essay that includes some of my images of the Birds of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

American Avocet Devouring a Tiny Crayfish

By |2021-04-29T13:10:54-06:00August 29th, 2016|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was tickled to photograph this American Avocet as it fed but it wasn't until later that I knew it was devouring a tiny crayfish.

Post-breeding Season Aggressive Behavior in American Avocets Plus a Bonus Great Horned Owl

By |2024-03-05T07:34:37-07:00August 20th, 2016|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Horned Owls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

I am unable to find information on line about why this male American Avocet attacked the female so aggressively but I can say that it was fascinating to see and photograph it.

Nonbreeding American Avocet foraging at Bear River MBR

By |2021-04-29T04:09:15-06:00August 1st, 2016|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

The American Avocets look a bit different now than they did earlier in the year because they are now in their paler, less colorful nonbreeding plumage.

American Avocets at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |2021-04-29T13:14:39-06:00June 9th, 2014|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is one of my favorite places to visit during the summer to observe and photograph nesting birds and take in the beauty of the refuge.

An Adult American Avocet in its breeding plumage

By |2021-04-09T04:08:36-06:00March 12th, 2014|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Three days ago I saw my first of the season American Avocets flying over the causeway to Antelope Island State Park and I let out a gleeful "whoop"!

Caution: Spring Birds Ahead

By |2024-02-28T10:37:55-07:00February 13th, 2014|Categories: American Avocets, American White Pelicans, Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It won't be long before the American White Pelicans are back at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge which is where I photographed the pelican in the image above last spring.

American Avocets at rest in the Great Salt Lake

By |2024-02-28T10:33:45-07:00December 1st, 2013|Categories: American Avocets, Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

The first time I went to Antelope Island State Park was on July 28, 2008 and among the wonderful things that I saw and photographed that trip were hundreds of American Avocets along the causeway to the island.

A Coyote Doing What Coyotes Do – Eating American Avocet Eggs

By |2021-09-11T07:38:30-06:00May 31st, 2013|Categories: American Avocets, Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Coyotes, Utah, Wildlife|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was a fascinating experience to see and photograph this Coyote locating and eating the egg and I'm tickled to have witnessed the Coyote's egg carrying behavior plus once again I am very glad to have been in the right place at the right time.

A Few Bird Images From This Past Week

By |2024-01-15T10:25:08-07:00April 13th, 2013|Categories: American Avocets, Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Great Egrets, Long-billed Curlews, Mountain Plovers, Rarities, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Even though I only got out to photograph birds three times this week each of the days I did get out were very memorable!

Some of the Birds I Love at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge

By |2024-02-09T09:47:33-07:00February 6th, 2013|Categories: American Avocets, American White Pelicans, Barn Owls, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Black-necked Stilts, Box Elder County, Duck hybrids, Eastern Kingbirds, Forster's Terns, Marsh Wrens, Snowy Egrets, Swainson's Hawks, Tundra Swans, Utah, Western Grebes, Western Kingbirds, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One of my favorite locations to photograph birds in northern Utah is Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I've selected some of the birds there that delight and entertain me while I observe and photograph them.

Hail Yeah – Storm at Red Rock Lakes Dam

By |2023-03-22T07:19:30-06:00October 28th, 2012|Categories: American Avocets, Beaverhead County, Birds, Montana, Peregrine Falcons, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Wilson's Phalaropes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Since I began photographing birds in Florida I have gotten used to getting wet to photograph shorebirds, wringing wet at times but my gear has never been as wet as it was the day I took these images from inside the pickup.

American Avocets in breeding and nonbreeding plumage

By |2021-04-29T03:56:23-06:00August 22nd, 2012|Categories: American Avocets, Birds, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

I photographed this American Avocet in nonbreeding plumage as it foraged in Glover's Pond at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area in northern Utah a few years ago in the month of November.

An American Avocet

By |2021-04-29T13:20:07-06:00June 19th, 2012|Categories: American Avocets, Antelope Island State Park, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Currently I am considering pursuing legal action against a commercial web site in Layton, Utah that has stolen 4 of my copyrighted images and used them on their site. The process of making a legal claim is daunting to me, however; I feel that I have to stand up and fight for what is legally mine AND protected by law.

Go to Top