Tooele County

Female American Kestrel in the West Desert

By Mia McPherson, on April 28th, 2013%

Female American Kestrel perched on a mound of dirt in the west desert – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

A few days ago I spotted this female American Kestrel on the road to Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, and I do mean in the road. She almost didn’t move even when the pickup was 20 feet from her as we rolled to a stop. I don’t know if we were in Tooele or Juab County at that point but it did seem to be an odd place for an American Kestrel to be, miles from the closest cliffs or mountains and in an area were the vegetation was almost nonexistent. She flew up from the road and landed on one of the trail markers for the Pony Express and from there across the road to perch on a small mound of dirt.

American Kestrel female about to lift off from a mound of dirt in the west desert - Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

I took four images of the female kestrel while she was on that mound of dirt last Wednesday and I hoped that my exposure was going to work because I didn’t have time to change it before she lifted off and flew out over the arid desert. This was my last image of her before she left and I love the pose she left me with along with the memories of an American Kestrel in the west desert of Utah.

I don’t know why she was there but I am very glad she was.

Mia

Tale Of A Red-tailed Hawk

By Mia McPherson, on April 26th, 2013%

Perched adult Red-tailed Hawk

This is a rather short tale about a Red-tailed Hawk although the tail of the Red-tailed Hawk is no shorter than any other Red-tailed Hawk. It is just a tale of a perched Red-tailed Hawk adult …

Adult Red-tail lifting off

Who lifted off from its lofty perch…

Red-tailed adult with wings spread out

To soar and survey its kingdom…

Red-tailed Hawk adult flying by

And to give me a look at its regal eye as it flew past me in its royal plumage.

Mia

More Red-tailed Hawk images

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

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

Adult Red-tailed Hawk on a ridge

By Mia McPherson, on March 29th, 2013%

Perched adult Red-tailed Hawk

Tooele County beckoned yesterday and I am glad it did because of coming across this adult Red-tailed Hawk. The day turned out to be sunny and warm which was delightful after the long winter we had here in Utah.

The Red-tail didn’t stay perched long.

Red-tailed Hawk lift off

And it lifted off in a different direction than I had expected. I like this pose because the wings are up, the hawk is focused on the direction it is heading and the feet haven’t completely left the perch yet.

Red-tailed Hawk right after lift off

Adult Red-tailed Hawks have such dark eyes and this image shows that well along with the beautiful earthy tones under the wing and the chest.

Red-tailed Hawk flying over a ridge

The hawk was heading east and the light was nice. I can’t tell you how many images I have dumped into my recycle bin because the light wasn’t great.

Red-tailed Hawk fly by

As the hawk flew lower I lost focus right after this image was taken.

It was a wonderful day.

Mia

More Red-tailed Hawk images

These images were taken with a Nikon D300, f6.3, shutter speeds were between 1/1250 to 1/1600, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4 x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited