Missing My Time In The Mountains
I have been missing springtime in the mountains. There is so much snow up there from this past winter that most of the mountain roads I use are still closed.
Drought-stricken Douglas Firs – How It Is Affecting The Birds That Eat The Seeds
When I was out in the sky island mountains of the West Desert of Utah a few days ago I was again met with virtual silence in and around the Douglas Firs that are there.
October West Desert Views Of Clouds, Mountains, And The Moon
Today I wanted to share these photos of some West Desert views of clouds, mountains, and the moon because I'd like to be out there seeing and photographing them all.
Thoughts on Our Drought, Douglas Firs, And Birds
Drought stressed Douglas Fir trees will produce what is called a "stress crop" of cones which is what I believe is happening to the firs in this location.
It’s Time To Look For Uinta Ground Squirrels
This is the time of the year when I look forward to taking my first of the season Uinta Ground Squirrel photos high in the Wasatch Mountains.
The Winds Of Change Affect My Access To Some Mountain Canyons
I always feel a sense of sadness when I can't get to those mountain canyons and the birds that live there all year long when they close those gates for the winter.
Black-capped Chickadee In The Wasatch Mountains
I saw and heard Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees yesterday morning but only this Black-capped Chickadee came in close enough for me to photograph.
Female Broad-Tailed Hummingbird Feeding, Hovering And Resting
A few days ago I photographed my first of the season Broad-tailed Hummingbird and I was elated that the bird was a female.
Wax Currants, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds And Their Favorite Perches
In just a matter of days Wax Currants will start to bloom in some of the lower elevations of the mountains that aren't far from where I live and that has me excited.
Photographing Blooming Glacier Lilies
I enjoyed my journey to photograph the Glacier Lilies yesterday, it was quiet, peaceful and very relaxing. No news, no negativity, and not thinking about what a mess our world is in helped me to de-stress.
Juvenile Gray Catbird With An Eye On Me
Two years ago I was able to find and photograph quiet a few young Gray Catbirds high in the Wasatch Mountain canyons including this one who seemed to be keeping an eye on me.
Some Days In The Field Are Mostly For Learning
Yesterday morning I didn't press my DSLR's shutter button a single time while I was out in the field so I came home without a single photo of a bird or animal but I did come home with something else. Knowledge.
Yellow Warbler In Willows
When this hatch year Yellow Warbler popped out into an open area of a willow thicket in a beam of sunlight I was happy to take its photo.
Picture This: Utah Could Lose Our Mountain Bluebirds
Our current climate crisis could mean Utah might lose our Mountain Bluebirds and it is not just us, it is Idaho, California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming that will also be affected if action isn't taken now.
Female Belted Kingfisher in the Wasatch Mountains
The nicest surprise of the morning was when a female Belted Kingfisher perched on a branch close to a creek and the road.
Adult Uinta Ground Squirrel Close Up In The Wasatch Mountains
I didn't get any photos of the Uinta Ground Squirrels while I was up in the canyons last week and I will need to fix that soon because I adore these furry, dark-eyed ground squirrels.
When the Birds are Slow In Utah There is Always Great Scenery
Finding birds was very challenging yesterday in the canyons of the Stansbury Mountains but it wasn't hard to find beauty in the scenery.
Chipping Sparrow, Mourning Dove and Changing Views
I couldn't resist photographing this tiny Chipping Sparrow singing while perched on a "cedar" fence post with the sky and dark juniper behind it.
Wild Turkeys in Utah
Maybe next time I up in the canyons I will get lucky and spot some of the Wild Turkeys that make their home in the Stansbury Mountains.
Celebrating 100 Years of U.S. National Parks
Today marks the Centennial of our National Park Service and entry to our National Parks is free from August 24 through August 28 so that we can all enjoy the celebration.
Sky Line Drive and Wasatch Mountain Journeys
I might need to go wandering up the canyons and Sky Line Drive soon just to see what birds and creatures I can find.
San Rafael Swell – State Park or National Monument designation in the future?
I also felt trepidation about the San Rafael Swell area because nothing within this state that is filled with stones is written in stone except the ancient pictographs and petroglyphs.
Moon set over the Stansbury Mountains of the West Desert
Yesterday while in the West Desert in Tooele County the cirrus clouds appealed to me that fanned out over the Stansbury Mountains.
Colorful Capitol Reef National Park
The geological features of Capitol Reef National Park are amazing. About 75 miles of the 100 mile long monocline known as the Waterpocket Fold are within the park's boundaries extending from Lake Powell north to the Thousand Lake Plateau.