Eremophila alpestris

Great Horned Owls and Horned Larks – Birds with Ear Tufts

By Mia McPherson, on April 15th, 2013%

Female Horned Lark

Great Horned Owls and Horned Larks are species of birds that have ear tufts that I photograph regularly here in Utah. The female Horned Larks “horns” are not usually visible. This female was photographed near the Stansbury Mountains in Tooele County, Utah.

Male Horned Lark

The “horns” of male Horned Larks are though and because the “horns” are a dark color they stand out more. This male was photographed near the Stansbury Mountains in Tooele County, Utah on a different day than the female above.

Female Great Horned Owl

The ear tufts of male and female Great Horned Owls are clearly visible and the size of the owls is how to determine gender. This female is larger than male Great Horned Owls. She was photographed on Antelope Island State Park in Davis County, Utah as she rested in a Tamarisk.

Male Great Horned Owl

This male was photographed on Antelope Island State Park in Davis County, Utah resting in the same Tamarisk on a different day than the female was photographed. The Tamarisk are an invasive species and have since been chopped down, I think it is a shame that the Tamarisks were not girdled which would have killed them but still left the dead Tamarisk for Owls and other birds of prey to use as perches.

It’s spring, isn’t it? How come there is snow on the ground this morning??? Springtime in Utah is fickle I tell you!

Mia

A Lark, or two, or four

By Mia McPherson, on April 5th, 2013%

The merry lark he soars on high, No worldly thought o’ertakes him. He sings aloud to the clear blue sky, And the daylight that awakes him. -Hartley Coleridge

Male Horned Lark displaying

Hartley Coleridge lived in England from 1796 to 1849 and I’m certain he wasn’t writing about the Larks we have in North America but I thought it was a suitable quote for a post on larks. The only native true lark that lives and breeds in North America is the Horned Lark. The male above was photographed in Tooele County, Utah a few days ago as he displayed on top of a rock. I didn’t see a female nearby but perhaps he did.

Female Lark Bunting

Another bird with “lark” in its name is the Lark Bunting which is actually in the sparrow family. I photographed this female (please correct me if I am wrong in case this is a non-breeding male) at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Montana in June of 2011. So far the only opportunity I have had to photograph this species is the day I took this image.

Lark Sparrow

The Lark Sparrow earns its name by singing like a lark and I am expecting their return to Utah any day now. I love that Harlequin pattern on their faces. This Lark Sparrow was photographed last May on Antelope Island State Park.

Western Meadowlark

Western Meadowlarks aren’t larks or sparrows, they are Icterids but they sing like a lark too. This one was photographed yesterday on Antelope Island State Park. Right now they are singing on territory and they don’t seem able to stop them selves from singing even when they are hunting or eating food.

There is a small breeding population of Sky Larks that were introduced near Vancouver that originated from Britain, Sky Larks that are seen elsewhere are likely vagrants from Asia.

Mia

Female Horned Lark and the moon setting over the Stansbury Mountains

By Mia McPherson, on March 31st, 2013%

Fluffed up female Horned Lark – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

I photograph tons of male Horned Larks but don’t have that many images of female Horned Larks, I was happy to find this beautiful female dancing and singing on a boulder in early morning light yesterday in Tooele County, Utah.

Calling Horned Lark female- Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

There was a male nearby who was singing too and maybe her dancing around on top of the boulder was part of their courtship. Females have paler faces and heads than males and their “horns” are nearly invisible.

Singing female Horned lark in Tooele County- Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

She might not have the flash the males have but she really is a beauty. The horned Larks are singing everywhere lately and it is always wonderful to hear them and get close enough for photos.

Female Horned Lark singing- Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

You can see green in the background because new grasses are springing up since the weather has gotten warmer. It felt wonderful to have the warmth of the sun on me and still see snow on the top of the Stansbury Mountain Range.

Moon set over the Stansbury Mountains- Nikon D300, f11, 1/500, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

After photographing the female Horned Lark we drove up the canyon and stopped to photograph the moon setting over the Stansbury Mountains. I was zoomed to 400mm plus the 1.4x TC was attached which is why the moon looks so large.

Horned Larks, watching the moon set, yes, it was a great morning.

Mia

Horned Larks in Box Elder County

By Mia McPherson, on February 25th, 2013%

Male Horned Lark on a snow mound – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/3200, ISO 500, +0.3, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

There was sun shine yesterday.

Horned Lark on a mound of snow - Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/3200, ISO 500, +0.3, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

We headed north and found birds too!

Horned Lark on a snow mound - Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/3200, ISO 500, +0.3, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

I spotted a flock of Horned Larks, some were foraging on the road and a few were perched on mounds of snow that someone had plowed. It seemed like the ones on the snow were just enjoying the sunshine. I know I was!

These images were taken in Box Elder County, Utah. Had a wonderful time there yesterday.

Mia

More Horned Lark images

Birds and Mammals from the past week

By Mia McPherson, on November 7th, 2012%

Bison Bull

It has been a slow week bird-wise but never the less I’ve been out taking images of birds and mammals such as this grazing Bison bull near the Visitor Center on Antelope Island State Park with the Great Salt Lake and Promontory Point in the background.

Great Horned Owl

Then finding a Great Horned Owl in an unusual and unexpected location near a bridge on the cause way to Antelope Island State Park. There are some Rabbitbrush nearby, plenty of boulders and mud flats. I thought it was just a fluke and that the owl would quickly move on but I spotted the owl in that location again two days ago. This is a terrible image and I hope to get the owl in better light if it does stick around.

Coyote baring teeth

I think this Coyote was just urinating as it stopped in front of the pickup but I am not sure why it was baring its teeth in this frame at all.

Horned Lark

The sweet calls of Horned Larks have been delighting me out on Antelope Island and in the west desert, this male was shaking its feathers after a very brief preening session.

Young Pronghorn Buck

This is a young Pronghorn buck that came so close to the pickup two days ago that I opted to just do portraits of him as he chewed on some vegetation.

Adult White-crowned Sparrow on a wild Rose

There are several wild Rose bushes along the gravel roads at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area and at this time of the year I always hope to find sparrows perched on them because of the red rosehips, this image didn’t have the rose hips visible but I like the alert pose of the adult White-crowned Sparrow, the laciness of the leaves and the smooth background.

Just a few images from this past week.

Mia