I went wandering in the West Desert of Utah yesterday because the views are always great and because I hoped to find a few birds.
Adult Sage Thrasher with prey in Tooele County
I went up a canyon and the first birds I was able to get close enough to were Sage Thrashers. The adult had a grasshopper in its bill and it seemed like it wanted the young bird to fly to it.
Young Sage Thrasher on barbed wire
The young Sage Thrasher could fly but it didn’t seem interested in flying to the adult instead it flew up to the fence then back to the ground…
Young Sage Thrasher perched on a fence post
Then back up to a fence post. The adult flew further away from the young bird and before long the young bird flew after it.
Under the watchful eye of a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk
Further up into the canyon I spotted a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk not far from a nest where earlier this year I saw chicks. This juvenile might be from that nest or it might not. I saw another immature Red-tailed Hawk higher up the canyon but it was younger than the one pictured above and in poor light.
I did see a family of Bullock’s Orioles in another canyon but they took off before I could get focused on them.
It was lovely wandering in the West Desert and taking images of thrashers and hawks.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Sage Thrasher photos plus facts and information about this species.
Click here to see more of my Red-tailed Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.
Thanks Utahbooklover, Roger, EC, and Mark.
Great images. As for the Bullock’s Orioles, I can confirm they are very shy and wary.
GREAT IMAGES MIA, REALLY GREAT!!
So very different – and equally beautiful.
Awe and wonder give us such gifts. As you do. Thank you.
I love wonder-filled wanderings. You never know for sure what will appear.