oolitic sand

Coyote on a Great Salt Lake beach

By Mia McPherson, on November 30th, 2012%

Coyote on a Great Salt Lake Beach – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 328mm, natural light, not baited or called in

I hope that no one is getting sick of my Coyotes images, I took this one two days ago as it walked on a Great Salt Lake beach. The Coyote tried to sneak up on some Canada Geese out closer to the shoreline but they became aware of the Coyote after the Phragmites thinned out, the behavior was very interesting to observe.

Mia

More Coyote images

I’ve made a lot of progress getting my new computer set up so things should be back to normal soon.

Birds of Antelope Island – A Mix of Feathered Friends

By Mia McPherson, on June 28th, 2012%

Yesterday I photographed a mixture of birds on Antelope Island State Park.

Chukar walking on the Oolitic sand dunes of the Great Salt Lake – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

There aren’t many places on this planet where a Chukar can be photographed walking on an Oolitic sand dune, I’m fortunate that I live where I can do that. The oolitic sand this Chukar is walking on was formed in the Great Salt Lake when calcium carbonate attached itself to brine shrimp feces in concentric layers. The rolling motion of the waves on the lake give the grains of sand an egg shape. I was glad I saw the Chukars on the sand.

Preening Lark Sparrow – Nikon D200, f8, 1/1250, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Later in the morning I spotted this Lark Sparrow perched on some dead Sagebrush branches, it preened for quite some time. I especially liked that the background is composed of sagebrush bushes. These sparrows are so handsome.

Northern Mockingbird chick – Nikon D200, f8, 1/1000, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

While I was photographing the Lark Sparrow I kept hearing a short, soft bird call so I kept peeking around my lens to see what making the sound. Before long I saw a tiny head pop up on a sagebrush and I scoped it with my lens. To my surprise it was a young Northern Mockingbird. It took awhile but the chick hopped up onto a branch where I could get a fairly clear shot of it and as an added bonus it had the Great Salt Lake in the background.

Sage Thrasher – Nikon D200, f8, 1/1000, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Not very far from the Northern Mockingbird chick I spotted this Sage Thrasher, for a change this one was cooperative and stuck around for a bit. It shouldn’t be long before I start seeing their chicks too.

Chukar chick surrounded by Brine Flies – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

One of the last stops was near the marina where there are boulders that line the shore. We’ve had a tremendous hatch of Brine Flies and even the Chukars are benefiting from that.

Several Chukars with chicks were on the boulders and the muddy shore and oddly enough I also saw a California Quail with the group. California Quail are not common on the island. One of the adult Chukars that was in the mud had the brine flies covering its back almost to its neck. All of those grayish spots in the air, elongated shapes on the boulder the chick is standing on and dark spots on the boulders in the background are brine flies.

Brine Flies

There were flies tickling my face and hands while I photographed these birds, fortunately they don’t bite! This photo shows just a tiny section of the shoreline and a boulder, the small bits of blue is water, everything else that is on the surface are brine flies.

Mia

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