Spring

Bison Bull Shedding

By Mia McPherson, on April 5th, 2012%

Bison bull shedding – Nikon D200, handheld, f13, 1/200, ISO 250, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 135mm, natural light

Every day that I spend in the field is always marvelous but it seems especially wonderful during the change of seasons because I feel a heightened sense of anticipation for the first of the year birds, the first spotting of wildflowers blooming or the seasonal changes that wildlife exhibits in behavior or appearance.

After a winter of seeing Bison (Bison bison) with thick winter coats I’ve begun to see them shedding to their summer coats. I photographed this Bison bull two days ago while he was grazing on the tender green shoots of grasses and although he looks very shaggy I know that soon his haunches and hindquarters will be very sleek looking.

I have also recently noticed that I am only seeing bulls, the cows are noticeably absent which means they are seeking quiet locations to drop their calves.

Spring has sprung!

Mia

More Bison images

Signs of Spring ~ American Avocets and Double-crested Cormorants

By Mia McPherson, on February 26th, 2012%

It has been a very weird winter here in Utah, there hasn’t been much snow at all in the Salt Lake Valley and temperatures have been warmer than normal. For a few weeks it has felt like spring. This week I saw a report of butterflies already flitting around and the trees I see have buds that look like they are ready to burst open.

Birds that I normally expect to photograph in the winter have been scarce, for instance the Bald Eagles at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area where last year I could count hundreds on any given day in February and this year I’ve been lucky to see more than 4 at a time.

So I’ve found myself wishing for the arrival of “spring birds” on more than one occasion because bird photography has been rather slow the last few weeks.

Swimming Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) ~ Salt Lake County, Utah
Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 400, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Today I went out to Antelope Island State Park not expecting much because it has been very slow out there for bird photography lately and for the most part I was correct. But at the marina I saw some dark shapes in the sky flying very rapidly. I realized they were Cormorants as soon as my lens could focus on them! My FOY (first of the year) Double-crested Cormorants! There were four of them and they were too far away to get decent images but I felt like dancing because in my mind they are “spring birds“. Hooray!

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) in flight ~ Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah
Nikon D200, f8, 1/2000, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Just about a mile away from the park entrance I caught sight of a bird in flight and wondered what it was. My first instinct was “American Avocet” but it seems a little early for them. But I was right on the ID and saw not just one but two of them in flying along the causeway. Wow, more “spring birds“!

Oh yeah, I’m ready for the birds of spring.

Mia

(These images were taken previously, not today)

More American Avocet images
More Double-crested Cormorant images

Give Me Winter or Give Me Spring!

By Mia McPherson, on February 7th, 2012%

All over the U.S. this winter is reported as “The Winter that Wasn’t”. I believe it, I’m living it. The temperatures have been warmer, there has been very little snow in the Salt Lake Valley and it has just been very odd. The numbers of Bald Eagles are very low at Farmington Bay Wildlife Management Area compared to last year at this time and it seems the Rough-legged Hawks have started to move north already because their numbers are dwindling.

But I have begun to notice the signs of spring. Common Ravens and Loggerhead Shrikes are pairing up, Western Meadowlarks are singing their little hearts out and tiny green shoots of grass trying to emerge from the cold soil. So, enough already, if there isn’t going to be a winter then bring on the spring!

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) with its eye on another Grebe ~ Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, Utah
Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/1500, ISO 320, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC 400mm, natural light

Each spring I look forward to seeing the arrival of Western Grebes in noisy, gregarious flocks. For me, they mean the ice has melted and that spring is making its appearance. Western Grebes are handsome black and white birds with cherry red eyes and long sharp bills. Western Grebes are graceful in the water, clumsy on land and enchanting during their amazing courtship rushes.

I hope to get acceptable (by my own personal standards) of them rushing this spring if the Bear River refuge remains open throughout this years breeding season. Last year there was some flooding and road work happening that closed the road to the auto tour where rushing can usually be seen and photographed.

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) family portrait ~ Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, Utah
Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/750, ISO 320, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Western Grebes make floating nests using plant materials that are normally attached to submerged vegetation and both sexes incubate the eggs.

Within minutes of hatching the young climb onto the parents back and are hidden under the feathers which is called back-brooding and lasts for several weeks. In my opinion it is very endearing to see the young poke their heads out of the back feathers of the adult to beg for food or to just look around.

Yeah, bring on spring, I can barely wait to see Western Grebes again!

Mia

More Western Grebe images

Chukars of Antelope Island – Throughout the Year

By Mia McPherson, on July 5th, 2011%

Chukar calling in early morning light with Black Mustard in the background

Chukar calling in early morning light with Black Mustard in the background
Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 265mm, natural early morning light

I can recall vividly the first time I saw a wild Chukar (Alectoris chukar) on Antelope Island State Park and remember thinking “Wow, what an exotic bird!“ That thought probably was a bit strange though because at the time I was living in Florida and quite often saw birds there that would definitely be considered “exotic” here in Utah.

Chukar in sagebrush

Chukar in sagebrush
Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/160, ISO 320, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 325mm, low light

The fact is that Chukars are “exotic” any where they are found in North America. Chukars are an introduced upland game bird species that originally come from Eurasia. After introduction to the Great Basin feral populations became established and the Chukars have thrived in certain areas, one of those locations is Antelope Island State Park in northern Utah which is surrounded by the Great Salt Lake.

Close up of a Chukar
Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f8, 1/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Chukars have red bills, gray crowns, a cream colored throat which is bordered by a thick black area of feathers that makes me think they are wearing a V-necked sweater. The black border extends upward past the eye and across the forehead, the reddish orbital rings stands out quite well from the black feathers. Chukars are rotund birds and I believe the image above shows that quite well. To me it almost appears that the Chukar has swallowed a full water-balloon whole!

Side view of a Chukar with Black Mustard in the background

Side view of a Chukar with Black Mustard in the background
Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 265mm, natural early morning light

Chukars have beautifully marked flanks with cream, black and slightly rufous stripes, are primarily gray with pale pinkish gray backs. Chukars have short tails, reddish legs and their wings are short and rounded.

The females are slightly smaller than the males and the females lack spurs. I only learned about the spurs today while researching this species so I’ll have to start looking for them to ID the gender of the birds I am photographing.

Springtime Feeding Chukar

Springtime Feeding Chukar
Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f8, , 1/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Chukars are seed-eaters though they also eat insects. Cheatgrass; an introduced species from Eurasia, is a preferred food for Chukars, they ingest both the seeds and the green leaves. It makes perfect sense to me that they would eat a grass species that they ate in their homeland. Cheatgrass is considered an obnoxious weed in North America so I’m sure no one minds the Chukars eating their fill.

Chukar running across the Oolitic Sand of the Great Salt Lake

Chukar running across the Oolitic Sand of the Great Salt Lake
Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Because Antelope Island is located within the Great Salt Lake there are times when Chukars can be seen scurrying along the dunes of Oolitic Sand found on the shorelines. I find the formation of Oolitic sand quite fascinating, for more information about it you can click here.

While on Antelope Island I most often hear the Chukars before I see them, they cluck often which can clue a photographer in on where they might be located. Chukars form loose flocks, I have heard the flocks called coveys or crèches but simply prefer to call them a “flock”.

Chukar on gravel
Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f8, 1/1600, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

On the island you can see Chukars in different habitats. They can be seen on grassy slopes, in amongst the rocks and boulders, the dunes and in areas with sagebrush and rabbitbush. Early in the morning I often see them perched on top of the rocks or winding their way through the grasses.

Chukar walking down a boulder
Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/400, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 325mm, natural light

Chukars are social birds so if you see one there are probably more around. I believe there are times when the Chukars I spot on top of rocks or boulders are the “lookout” or “sentinel” bird that will alarm the others that are feeding on the ground of the presence of a predator.

Adult Chukar with chicks
Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f5.6, 1/1000, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light.

The nests of Chukars are shallow scrapes lined with grasses and breast feathers, my research indicates that they are difficult to find and I’d have to agree as I have never found or seen one. I’ve read where Chukars lay anywhere from seven to twenty-one eggs with the average being around fifteen.

I personally have seen adults with loads of chicks running all over the place. Keeping track of that many young must be akin to herding cats!

Towards the end of summer and into fall some of the adults begin to look ratty with the edges of their feathers appearing worn and often bare spots of skin are showing on or near the neck. They aren’t so “pretty” then but I’ll still photograph them.

Chukar calling on a snow-covered rock

Chukar calling on a snow-covered rock
Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

I haven’t spent a whole lot of time observing Chukars on Antelope Island during the winter but they are certainly present at that time of the year, they are not a migratory species. I hope to spend more time on the island in winter photographing them though as they are very beautiful against a fresh, white snow and sunny skies.

Mia

More Chukar images

Newborn Pronghorn Fawn

By Mia McPherson, on June 19th, 2011%

Newborn Pronghorn Fawn Blur
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Montana
Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/15, ISO 640, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 200mm, natural light

Seeing this newborn Pronghorn is one of those experiences that I will never forget. I already think that Pronghorn young are the cutest furry baby mammals on the planet. This little one still had the umbilical cord dangling from its belly and it was still very wobbly on those long thin legs.

The fawn was hidden in grasses along side a road on the refuge and hopped up when we passed by, I’m sure the vehicle startled it.

There was very little light, the sky was hugely overcast and the fawn didn’t stay still long. We took just a few shots and left so the fawn could find its mother who was nowhere in sight.

I wish just a tiny ray of the sun had found its way through the clouds to shine on this little beauty. I had bumped my ISO as much as I dared with my D200 and still could only get a 15th of a second in shutter speed.

At first I was very disappointed in my photos of the Pronghorn but I found two where at least the face and eyes were in focus even though the rest of the fawn was not. This was not an intentional blur but the more I look at it the more I like it because the eyes and head are in focus. I’m not surprised the legs are a blur because the fawn was wobbling on them and the legs never seemed to stop moving.

Yes, a sliver of light would have been marvelous but I can see it all sharply in my memories of a chance encounter with this newborn.

Mia

More Pronghorn images