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.
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.
American Tree Sparrow – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or called in
Last month I was able to take images of American Tree Sparrows on two different days in very different conditions in about the same location on Antelope Island State Park. The first day the conditions were deplorable because I had low light, blowing snow and foggy conditions but the second time I had them in my viewfinder I had very nice light, in fact the Tree Sparrows and dried vegetation seemed to glow against the white of the snow and I was able to get a series of images that I found appealing.
American Tree Sparrows winter in Utah but they breed in scrubby thickets in willows and birch in Alaska and northern Canada. Sometimes they are mistaken for the smaller Chipping Sparrow but their slightly larger size, bicolored bill, rusty eye-line and dark central spot on the breast helps to differentiate between the two species.
Ring-necked Pheasant hen – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, not baited
Just a simple high key image of a hen Ring-necked Pheasant this morning that was taken in January at Farmington Bay WMA in Davis County, Utah. The heavy layer of snow had made it difficult for the pheasants to forage and due to that they were out in the open more than normal.
Because of the amount of snow we have had here this winter in the Salt Lake Valley I have been able to take lots of high key images of birds and animals but I am looking forward to seeing some green now!
Chukar on top of a mound of snow – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/3200, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR at 321mm, natural light, not baited
Yes, more Chukars in the snow! I spotted this Chukar on top of a mound of snow that the plow had pushed to the side of the road on Antelope Island State Park. It appeared to be the sentinel bird for others that were feeding nearby and it gave me some nice poses in good light.
Chukar on a mound of snow - Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR at 328mm, natural light, not baited
I took some vertical and horizontal images of the Chukar since it gave me the time to compose and reframe my shots.
Chukar in clear light - Nikon D300, f9, 1/800, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light, not baited
This image was taken on the island too but on a different day. As I recall is was very chilly that morning and the Chukars I saw were fluffed up against the cold.
Chukar – High Key - Nikon D300, f8, 1/1250, ISO 400, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light, not baited
This image was also taken on a different day in dimmer light than those above which gave me a high key effect.
I’ve certainly had ample opportunities to photograph Chukars in the snow this year and right now I can’t wait until I can start taking images with spring green grass in them!
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
