snow covered

Coyote on a snow-covered hillside

By Mia McPherson, on February 26th, 2013%

Coyote on a snow covered hillside – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or called in

Yesterday I spotted this lone Coyote walking in the snow on a hillside on Antelope Island State Park and stopped to take some images of it before it disappeared into the brush.

The weather forecasters are calling for temperatures in the 50′s this weekend, this snow might melt quickly off of the hillside. There is more open water now and just yesterday there were reports of American Avocets in Davis County.

Winter is starting to lose its icy grip.

Mia

More Coyote images

Snowy Coyote, Chukar and Antelope Island State Park

By Mia McPherson, on January 29th, 2013%

Chukar in the air – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

Yesterday when I saw this running Chukar image on my camera LCD in mid-stride and mid-air I had to chuckle because it looks something like a feathered Nerf football some one tossed across the snow. It does give a great view of the whole bird though!

There was about 6 inches of fresh snow on the ground on Antelope Island yesterday, some of the roads weren’t even plowed yet and while there was lovely light to the west it had not reached the island when I photographed the Chukar.

Snow-covered Coyote – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 640, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 350mm, natural light, not baited or called in

Then later I spotted Old Scarface again, a pale Coyote who has scars on its muzzle, and another darker, smaller Coyote. I think this pale Coyote is a male because he looks slightly larger than the other one, but I can’t be sure. The female hung back but this Coyote came up close and appeared to be looking for voles under the thick layer of snow, this image was taken right after the Coyote stuck its muzzle into the snow to sniff out prey. I have photographed this Coyote before but hadn’t noticed that its eyes are a darker amber than most Coyotes I have seen, maybe it was just the flat light.

This Coyote may have an injured foot, it did walk gingerly on the foot but at times I could see it just walking on its other three legs.

I’ll be posting more images of the Coyotes and the Chukars I photographed yesterday soon.

Snow-covered rocks on Antelope Island – Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 400, +1.7 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 42mm, natural light

This image shows the clouds over the island and they were the reason the light was flat, I liked the way the snow covered these rocks and how the drifts seemed a part of them.

More snow is on the way and it might be a few days before I can get back out to photograph. I have plenty of images that need to be edited though. The snow on Antelope Island has been beautiful this winter and hopefully the next time I go out there the sun will shine brightly on it.

Mia

I love Chukars in snow!

By Mia McPherson, on January 21st, 2013%

Fluffed up Chukar in snow

These Chukar images were taken last Friday and this bird is the same one in my post titled “Some fun with birds from yesterday“, I wanted to share more photos of it. Snow was still falling lightly when I started taking these pictures and a few flakes of it still show on the Chukar’s plumage.

Alert Chukar in snow

I’m not sure why the Chukar went on alert but it seemed to be trying to stop itself from calling out. There were probably more Chukars in the area but I couldn’t spot them.

Chukar running down a snow-covered rock

Shortly after the Chukar went on alert it moved to another spot on the snow-covered rock.

Chukar and flying snow

I like how this image shows snow flying near the Chukar’s foot as it hurried down the r0ck.

Chukar slowly walking in snow

Then the Chukar slowed down, whatever danger it sensed was obviously gone. And there are still snow flakes on the bird.

Chukar with one foot raised

The Chukar stopped and appeared calm enough to raise one foot and look around, mostly at the two big lenses pointed at it. I really love the smooth background these pictures have because the bird stands out so well from it.

Chukar scratching

I think those tiny snow flakes caused the bird to scratch vigorously for a few seconds but it could have been something else too. I do wish the Chukar’s eye had been open when I took this image.

Chukar in the snow

The Chukar went back to a relaxed pose for a few minutes then took off flying very quickly. I don’t know if a predator flew over or if the Chukar might have spotted a Coyote and decided to leave but I am glad that it gave us ample time to photograph it before it left.

Mia

*All images taken with a Nikon D300 at f6.3, shutter speeds of 1/1600 to 1/2000, +0.7 EV with a Nikkor 200-400mm VR lens plus a 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited.

More Chukar images

Small in the Frame – Bald Eagle

By Mia McPherson, on January 20th, 2013%

Bald Eagle – Small in the frame – Golden Spike National Historic Site, Utah

Yesterday Ron, Brian Gatlin and I went to Bear River National Wildlife Refuge and the Golden Spike National Historic Site area in bad light, falling snow and lake fog looking for birds to photograph and we came up pretty much empty-handed but we did find this adult Bald Eagle perched on some snow-covered rocks going towards the Golden Spike National Historic Site Visitor Center as the snow fell. The eagle was quite a distance away but I loved the rugged habitat so I decided to have the raptor small in the frame rather than over-crop and reduce the image quality. For me the habitat in this frame is as important as the Bald Eagle.

It was about 5 degrees Fahrenheit which was cold for us even photographing from inside a warm vehicle so I imagine the Bald Eagle was cold too.

We didn’t come away with the images that we hoped for but the company was terrific and we all had a great time while surrounded by the beauty of nature.

Mia

More Bald Eagle images

Chukar images – 4 hits – 1 miss

By Mia McPherson, on December 31st, 2012%

Chukar calling on a snow-covered rock

Yesterday I spotted a covey of Chukars on Antelope Island foraging in the snow, this Chukar was pulling guard duty and standing on top of a snow covered rock and for a bit it was calling. I haven’t heard that sound in a few months so I was overjoyed to get images of it.

The Chukar takes off running

All of a sudden the calling Chukar took off running, I never saw what had alarmed it.

Nervous Chukar in the snow

These upland game birds move fast when they need to.

Running Chukar

And it can be a challenge to follow them with a long lens and keep focus.

Clipped the bill

This is a shot that makes me either want to cry or kick my butt. I kept focus, the snow was flying and the red foot was exposed… but I hadn’t moved my lens fast enough and clipped the bird’s bill. I really hate it when I mess up. Live and learn.

Hope you all have a Happy New Years Eve.

Mia

* All images taken with a Nikon D300, lens resting on my Noodle, f7.1, ISO 640, between 1/1600 and 1/2000, Nikkor 200-400mm with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or called in.

More Chukar images