My 2022 Year In Review

On this last day of the year it is time for my annual 2022 Year in Review post. In some ways 2022 has been great for me and in others not so good.

January

Horned Grebe plus weird reflection

I spent 15 days of January out in the field with the birds and critters. Most of those days were spent at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge but a few were spent at Farmington Bay WMA, out in the West Desert, up in East Canyon and at my local pond.

In January one of my highlights was three days of seeing and photographing a Horned Grebe in the wetlands of Bear River MBR. I was delighted because I don’t often have this species in my viewfinder. To get the grebe in good light with bluebird skies overhead was a thrill.

I’m already wondering what my first bird of the year will be for 2023.

February

Great Horned Owl in a roadside thicket

Of the ten days I spent in the field in February my best find of the month has to have been this Great Horned Owl. I spotted it in a roadside thicket while traveling about 40 to 45 mph. Pointing it out was much, much harder than finding it was.

I photographed birds at Bear River MBR, far northern Utah, Farmington Bay WMA and one morning on Antelope Island State Park.

March

Bewick’s Tundra Swan at Bear River MBR

March came in and so did a huge disappointment. Since I arrived in Utah in 2009 I had hoped to photograph a rare vagrant Bewick’s Tundra Swan. This Eurasian subspecies of Tundra Swan occasionally shows up in northern Utah. This March I spotted one at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge but due to circumstances beyond my control I didn’t get to the swan soon enough to get the photos of it that I had dreamed of.

This was my best image and it is merely a documentary shot. Over the months since that day, I have regretted not being able to get to the swan two or three seconds sooner because I might have had my dream shots. I know that I have to get to the subject in time to photograph it. Sometimes the birds I miss stand out as sharply in my mind as the birds I do find and take quality images of.

In March I was out in the field for only nine days. I spent time at my local pond, at Bear River MBR, and a few days at Antelope Island State Park.

April

Young Golden Eagle looking over the desert

The first day of April started off great when I found and pointed out a young Golden Eagle resting on a lichen covered rock in the desert. I don’t see Golden Eagles as often as I did when I first moved to Utah so I was excited.

In April was out in the field ten days. I found and photographed birds in the West Desert, far northern Utah, in the high country of the Wasatch Mountains, and at my neighborhood pond. As the days grew longer and warmer birds had courting on their minds.

May

Yellow Warbler female building her nest

In the ten days that I was out in the field in May I accomplished something I had never done before. I found not one but two Yellow Warbler nests on the same day in two counties high in the Wasatch Mountains. Paying attention paid off.

Migrant birds came in and I was busy photographing them in the Wasatch Mountains, the West Desert, and far northern Utah. Bird song filled the air on the warmer days. Courting birds and those raising their young were often my subjects.

June

Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird stink eye

June was busy with birds! I spent eleven days in the field and all but one day was spent in the Wasatch Mountains. The remaining day was spent showing my friend and fellow photographer, Steve Creek, the beauty of the Uinta Mountains.

This Broad-tailed Hummingbird was photographed in the Wasatch Mountains and seemed to be giving me the stink eye. I’d bet though that he was watching an intruding hummingbird in the distance. Birds were raising their young, singing, and delighting me with their flights in the high country.

July

Young Black-billed Magpie in a serviceberry

By July I was seeing young birds everywhere I went. Some babies were begging to be fed and some fledglings were on their own already. Both can be loud and noisy and I loved that.

Temps were extremely hot down in the valley so I headed up into the high country of the Wasatch Mountains every trip I made out into the field. I drove up there nine times in July.

August

Warbling Vireo in a chokecherry tree

I spent fourteen days put in the field in August. I traveled to the West Desert, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, the Wasatch Mountains, and time at my local pond. Temps were well above normal but I wanted to check out some areas that I had been missing.

I was thrilled to see and photograph this Warbling Vireo in the Wasatch Mountains. It was the first one I had seen since a trip to the Uinta Mountains in June. I was getting concerned about this species in northern Utah. On the same date I photographed a young Yellow-breasted Chat which made for a great trip into the mountains.

September

Rock Wren on a rock at Farmington Bay WMA

One of my best birds for the month of September was a migrating Rock Wren that I found and photographed at Farmington Bay WMA. Because I found the wren I also found a Long-tailed Weasel that was a delight.

In the nine days that I was in the field I spent the majority of my time at Farmington Bay WMA but I also went up into the Wasatch Mountains, traveled to Bear River MBR and out into the West Desert too. I had great birds in all those locations.

October

Ruffed Grouse on a dirt road

In October I was on the road thirteen days looking for birds. One of the highlights of the month was a Ruffed Grouse that I found high in the Wasatch Mountains on a dirt road. The light wasn’t the best but I was over the moon because this grouse species was a nemesis for me. I got loads of photos of it as it slowly walked across the dirt road and even took a short video of it. I nearly tripped while I was walking towards the grouse and then forgot I was taking video altogether.

November

Ring-billed Gulls in a feeding frenzy

In November I was only in the field 6 days primarily because of cloudy, dreary weather but I made the most of each trip into the field. I spent time at my local pond and walking along the Jordan River, at Farmington Bay WMA and Bear River MBR.

My trip up to Bear River MBR was fascinating because I saw several gull feeding frenzies. The two gull species that were feeding on small fish were Bonaparte’s and Ring-billed Gulls. I could have stayed with the gulls all day if I had only brought something to eat. I loved the chaos, the noisy gulls and the spectacular light I had that morning.

December

Winter female American Kestrel on a nest box

In December I was out looking for birds on ten days but mostly at my local pond because December has been cloudy, snowy and at times, brutally cold, this year. I did have one day at Farmington Bay WMA.

We need the moisture to break our drought so I am really grateful for the precipitation we have been getting.

I photographed this female American Kestrel two days ago at Farmington Bay as she perched on a nest box there with the snow covered Wasatch Mountains in the background.

Wrapping up 2022

I only spent 126 days in the field in 2022 which is lower than my average for previous years. However, I made those days count by taking my time looking for birds and other wildlife. Plus I thoroughly enjoyed soaking up the peace and quiet.

The bad part of 2022 was losing some of my dear friends that also loved and were passionate about birds. I miss them and our talks about what we were were seeing in the field. They were great people and they will remain in my thoughts for as long as I live.

There were also times that spotting birds was “slim pickings” probably due to the excessive heat of summer and our ongoing drought.

I loved my time in the field in 2022 and sharing my adventures here on my site and in person with bird and nature loving people. I was glad to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. Most of all, I treasured every bird that I found.

I am looking forward to whatever wonders 2023 brings.

Life is good. Happy New Year everyone!

Mia

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