Our Sage Thrashers Will Migrate Soon

Back view of a Sage Thrasher in early morning light – 2015

While looking through some of my older Sage Thrasher photos yesterday I realized that they will be migrating south soon and that I have seen very few of them this year. Sage Thrashers are only in Utah for their breeding season and by now all their chicks have fledged and are feeding on their own. Usually by the third week of September I have seen my last of them for the season.

Sage Thrasher near a desert seep – 2020

If I head out to Antelope Island or up north I should be able to see and photograph some Sage Thrashers before they head south on migration. I would certainly love to hear them at least one more time before they go.

Young Sage Thrasher perched on a light colored rock – 2016

I’ve missed out on photographing Sage Thrashers displaying early in their breeding seasons the last two years. In 2020 it was because of the pandemic and in 2021 it was because the biting gnats came out so soon after the Sage Thrashers arrived on spring migration. I’ve had such bad reactions to the biting gnat bites the last three or four years that I have to avoid them when they hatch on Antelope Island.

Sage Thrasher chick in low light – 2015

And that also means I have missed out on seeing Sage Thrasher chicks and fledglings make their first appearance on the island too.

There are still a few weeks for me to find and photograph these “Mountain Mockingbirds” and I hope that I can because I admire their subtle beauty and their calls and songs.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Sage Thrasher photos plus facts and information about this species.