falcons

Female and Male American Kestrel Comparison

By |2024-02-18T18:12:01-06:00December 10th, 2017|Categories: American Kestrels, Bird ID, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've seen people struggle with seeing the differences between male and female American Kestrels and I hope this simple comparison will help.

Side By Side Prairie and Peregrine Falcon Comparison

By |2024-02-20T13:14:09-06:00November 18th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

There are other differences in plumage between Prairie and Peregrine Falcons that show in my photos but by using just their heads it is possible to make a quick ID in the field.

First of Season Merlin – Odd Behavior and Possible Explanation

By |2024-02-15T04:00:03-06:00October 13th, 2017|Categories: American Pipits, Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Merlins, Montana, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I spotted my first of the season Merlin yesterday morning out on the flats at Farmington Bay yesterday morning and it truly delighted me.

Adult Peregrine Falcon and Godzilla Perched High Over the County Landfill

By |2021-05-24T06:55:07-05:00September 24th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Lee Kay Ponds, Peregrine Falcons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Peregrine Falcon was quite content on its rusty, lofty perch and didn't do anything but turn its head to see what was going on down below it.

Juvenile Burrowing Owl VS a Juvenile Peregrine Falcon

By |2021-12-20T05:36:40-06:00August 21st, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Burrowing Owls, Davis County, Peregrine Falcons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Eight years ago today I didn't know that it would be the last time I'd photograph the Burrowing Owl family together and that a juvenile Peregrine Falcon would have a part in that.

Peregrine Falcon Stretching Sessions

By |2024-03-16T06:30:19-05:00February 15th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Peregrine Falcons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I spent forty-one minutes observing and photographing this Peregrine Falcon yesterday while it rested, preened and stretched right next to the Great Salt Lake.

Male American Kestrel Resting and Preening – One Good Bird Can Make the Day

By |2022-12-10T08:57:55-06:00February 9th, 2017|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I have mentioned before how one good bird can make a day and yesterday that bird was a male American Kestrel resting and preening at Farmington Bay WMA.

American Kestrel with prey on a snowy winter day

By |2022-12-10T09:01:55-06:00January 26th, 2017|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The American Kestrel was perched on an arching wild rose branch with prey in his bill when I photographed him with snow covered ice and the Wasatch Mountains in the background

Wild versus Captive Birds in Photography – Keeping it Real, Keeping it Honest

By |2021-05-24T06:59:32-05:00January 18th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Peregrine Falcons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've made it clear on my post about Galileo and in this post about Goose that they are education birds and in my photo galleries I have included this symbol (C) to indicate they are captive birds.

Pale-chested American Kestrel – Variability in the Underparts of Male American Kestrels

By |2022-12-10T09:04:15-06:00January 16th, 2017|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The male American Kestrel caught my eye immediately because he has such a pale chest that the spots on his chest stood out like tiny black jewels set in a field of snow white.

Prairie Falcon with Prey in Box Elder County, Utah (Graphic)

By |2021-03-13T13:23:50-06:00January 14th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Prairie Falcons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Prairie Falcon I photographed had prey and that may be why it was less skittish. I have no idea what the prey is but it is larger than a vole and had fur not feathers.

Immature Prairie Falcon At Sunrise Next To The Great Salt Lake

By |2023-11-18T07:28:20-06:00December 6th, 2016|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Prairie Falcons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The bird that started my day was an immature Prairie Falcon at sunrise next to the Great Salt Lake and as the sun started to rise the falcon seemed to glow.

Looking For Peregrine Falcons On The Shore Of The Great Salt Lake

By |2021-05-24T07:07:00-05:00November 11th, 2016|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Peregrine Falcons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This time of the year I start looking for Peregrine Falcons to show up near the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake because of the high numbers of ducks that are usually there.

American Kestrel Landing With A Grasshopper

By |2022-12-10T09:08:46-06:00November 8th, 2016|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was able take one image of the American Kestrel landing with a grasshopper in his bill that was sharp and that I liked.

Centennial Valley Prairie Falcon and a Short-eared Owl Barbed Wire Casualty

By |2021-08-10T15:51:53-05:00September 18th, 2016|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Clark County, Idaho, Montana, Prairie Falcons, Short-eared Owls|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I spent some time in the Centennial Valley of Montana yesterday and the best bird of the morning was this adult Prairie Falcon photographed on a cattle chute with a white cloud in the background.

Peregrine Falcon in flight in front of a sandstone cliff face

By |2021-05-24T07:10:36-05:00March 16th, 2016|Categories: Birds, Peregrine Falcons, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was able to photograph this Peregrine Falcon in flight in front of a brightly colored sandstone cliff face with the light of the setting sun on it. I was delighted.

An American Kestrel attacking a Red-tailed Hawk – How I Messed Up This Shot

By |2023-03-14T05:45:33-05:00February 8th, 2016|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It isn't every day that I have the opportunity to photograph an American Kestrel attacking a Red-tailed Hawk in the air, in fact this would have been my best opportunity.

Male American Kestrels on Nest Boxes

By |2022-12-10T09:18:40-06:00January 24th, 2016|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Male American Kestrels look for and locate potential nesting cavities within their territories and inspect them prior to the nesting season.

Young Peregrine Falcon and the Great Salt Lake

By |2023-12-12T08:14:59-06:00November 12th, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Peregrine Falcons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Great Salt Lake this time of the year is full of ducks and that means that there is ample food in the area for this young Peregrine Falcon.

Male American Kestrel fluffed up on a cold Utah morning

By |2022-12-10T09:15:32-06:00November 5th, 2015|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While working on my new photo galleries I came across this image of a male American Kestrel fluffed up on a cold Utah morning taken back in the winter of 2010.

Female American Kestrel On A Snowy Waterfowl Sign

By |2022-12-10T06:33:43-06:00October 17th, 2015|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last winter I photographed this lovely little female American Kestrel at Farmington Bay WMA after a snow fall as she perched on a "Waterfowl Resting Area" sign.

Female American Kestrel at Farmington Bay

By |2024-04-06T08:26:52-05:00October 8th, 2015|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Male American Kestrels usually grab the show with their bright colors and bold patterns but I think the females are equally as stunning.

Centennial Valley Merlin

By |2024-02-15T06:27:44-06:00September 13th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Merlins, Montana|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I don't often have the opportunity to photograph Merlins so I was plenty excited to find one yesterday on the South Valley Road in the Centennial Valley that stuck around for a bit!

Antelope Island Spiders – An Important Part of the Food Web

By |2021-07-11T15:31:00-05:00August 2nd, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Brine Flies, Davis County, Prairie Falcons, Utah, Western Spotted Orbweaver|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This coming Saturday, August 8, 2015, is the date 0f the annual Spider Festival on Antelope Island State Park and there should be plenty of spiders to be seen, almost a bumper crop of them!

Utah Gyrfalcon Lifer and cruddy photos

By |2023-11-17T07:29:14-06:00February 12th, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Gyrfalcons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This could be the seventh record of a Gyrfalcon in Utah, we will have to wait and see if it accepted. I hope the bird sticks around so that other people can see it.

Female Kestrel With Prey On A Snowy Day

By |2022-12-10T06:30:59-06:00December 23rd, 2014|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've been seeing plenty of American Kestrels lately but none have been close enough to get nice images of so I pulled this one out of my archives from 2010.

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