Hawks, Eagles, Ospreys and Vultures

On The Lookout For Rough-Legged Hawks

By |2021-02-24T04:12:39-06:00October 19th, 2020|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I'm hoping that this week I'll be able to spot my first of the season Rough-legged Hawks and that I'll be able to get photos of them too. Fingers are crossed!

West Desert Ferruginous Hawks – Light And Dark Morphs

By |2021-09-22T15:48:56-05:00October 12th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Ferruginous Hawks, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The past couple of weeks on some of my journeys to the West Desert of Utah I have been able to have a few long distance views of Ferruginous Hawks and that has me excited.

An Immature Red-tailed Hawk Resting In A Tree

By |2021-05-03T03:21:05-05:00October 7th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I spent sometime at Farmington Bay WMA yesterday morning where my best bird of the day was an immature Red-tailed Hawk resting in a tree.

Surprise Immature Osprey In The West Desert Of Utah

By |2023-03-27T07:13:44-05:00October 1st, 2020|Categories: Birds, Ospreys, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I don't know how many times I have said "expect the unexpected" since I began photographing birds while talking to fellow photographers.

Adult Red-tailed Hawk With A Snake In The West Desert

By |2021-05-31T07:09:42-05:00September 27th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Red-tailed Hawks, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I noticed immediately that the Red-tailed Hawk was on prey because I saw it tearing into something despite the grasses that were partially obstructing my view.

Hawk In The West Desert Perched In A Dead Juniper

By |2022-05-27T13:14:43-05:00September 12th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Red-tailed Hawks, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I don't usually share photos where the main subject is facing away from me but I liked the alert pose of this raptor as it perched in the dead but distant juniper tree.

Focusing On Taking Immature Cooper’s Hawk Photos

By |2024-03-16T13:22:23-05:00September 7th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Cooper’s Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The first bird I photographed yesterday morning was an immature Cooper's Hawk that I found because I spotted a Red-tailed Hawk on a cliff face that the young accipiter decided to harass. 

Recently Fledged Red-tailed Hawks From Two Nests

By |2022-10-04T04:42:03-05:00July 13th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had a great time photographing three recently fledged Red-tailed Hawks from two different nests in northern Utah yesterday morning.

Adult Turkey Vultures Thermoregulating

By |2021-03-12T06:02:53-06:00May 26th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Turkey Vultures, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In April there was a bright, sunny morning when I had several opportunities to photograph adult Turkey Vultures warming up after a chilly night by thermoregulating.

Wet Swainson’s Hawk In A Storm

By |2021-03-31T04:44:05-05:00May 19th, 2020|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Montana, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This adult male Swainson's Hawk was perched near his nest in a light rain and although he looked soaking wet that didn't appear to bother him much at all.

Thermoregulating Turkey Vulture Close Up

By |2021-03-12T06:05:54-06:00April 11th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Turkey Vultures, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Mornings have still been fairly chilly here in northern Utah and the Turkey Vultures that recently arrived on spring migration have been taking advantage of the rising sun by thermoregulating to help chase off the chill.

Swainson’s Hawk Chicks, Sub-adult And Adults

By |2021-03-09T04:18:29-06:00March 31st, 2020|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Box Elder County, Centennial Valley, Clark County, Idaho, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Swainson's Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

These are the life stages of the Swainson's Hawks I see, observe and photograph here in Utah, Idaho and Montana.

Red-tailed Hawk Nesting Season Has Begun!

By |2022-10-04T04:41:23-05:00March 28th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The female Red-tailed Hawk blended into the lichen covered cliff face so well that even with my sharp eyesight I didn't see her until the male landed next to her.

Photographing Birds During Social Distancing Plus Earthquake Aftershocks

By |2022-08-16T04:23:44-05:00March 23rd, 2020|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In the event that our governor does force us into a total lock down I have enough images that I haven't shared here on my blog that I could post everyday for a year and still not run out of photos.

Mating Bald Eagles At East Canyon Reservoir Plus A Black-billed Magpie

By |2021-03-12T08:01:23-06:00March 17th, 2020|Categories: Bald Eagles, Birds, Black-billed Magpies, East Canyon State Park, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I took eighty-four images of the Bald Eagle pair mating on the frozen reservoir and the entire time the magpie stood on the ice close to them.

Memories Of Photographing A Very Cooperative Turkey Vulture

By |2021-03-12T06:16:55-06:00March 15th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Turkey Vultures, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The memories of photographing this Turkey Vulture that spring morning have made me feel excited because these vultures are heading north now and soon I will have them in my viewfinder again.

Female Northern Harrier In Flight Over The Flats At Farmington Bay

By |2021-11-24T03:41:57-06:00March 2nd, 2020|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Northern Harriers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The adult female Northern Harrier was in flight in wonderful, warm morning light and I couldn't resist raising my lens and taking photos of her as she flew past.

Rough-legged Hawks Will Be Leaving – Swainson’s Hawks Will Arrive Soon

By |2021-03-31T14:14:55-05:00February 29th, 2020|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Rough-legged Hawks, Swainson's Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It is almost time for me to see a seasonal switch of raptors here in northern Utah because the Rough-legged Hawks will leaving and the Swainson's will arrive soon.

Sub-adult Bald Eagle Resting In Marsh Habitat

By |2024-02-06T07:40:33-06:00February 24th, 2020|Categories: Bald Eagles, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I did find a sub-adult Bald Eagle resting on the ice on the last leg of the refuge loop and even though it was at a distance I wanted to photograph it because of the marshy habitat it was in. 

Bald Eagle On An Icy Marsh – Small In Frame

By |2024-02-06T07:53:56-06:00February 16th, 2020|Categories: Bald Eagles, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Three days ago I photographed an adult Bald Eagle resting on the frost-covered, icy marsh at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah.

Northern Harriers Blending Into Their Habitat

By |2022-08-16T04:34:15-05:00February 11th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Northern Harriers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

For me this female Northern Harrier and the immature harrier in the other photo are a classic examples of what I like to call a hidden treasure type of image.

Immature Bald Eagles Up High In The Wasatch Mountains

By |2021-03-08T06:16:36-06:00February 4th, 2020|Categories: Bald Eagles, Birds, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On the first of February when I found and photographed an unusual and distinctive Bald Eagle with leucism I also photographed two more immature eagles in the same area.

Second Winter Bald Eagle With Leucism On Its Forehead, Crown And Throat

By |2024-02-06T06:31:48-06:00February 2nd, 2020|Categories: Bald Eagles, Birds, Leucistic, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I spent some time up in the Wasatch Mountains and I am so glad that I did because I found a second winter Bald Eagle with leucism.

Rufous Female Red-tailed Hawk Fly By

By |2021-04-27T04:39:50-05:00January 24th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I keep wondering if I will see this big, gorgeous, rufous Red-tailed Hawk female in my viewfinder again this year.

Red-tailed Hawk On Rusting Farm Machinery

By |2021-05-03T03:15:11-05:00January 21st, 2020|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I spotted an adult Red-tailed Hawk on one of the pieces of rusty machinery two days ago on my way home from the auto tour route at the refuge I knew I had to get some photos of it.

Adult Male Rough-legged Hawk Perched On A Russian Olive

By |2021-11-06T07:17:31-05:00January 11th, 2020|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I could wish that there weren't any branches in front of the hawk but honestly it just felt good to not have something happen to ruin my opportunity to photograph this Rough-legged Hawk.

Ferruginous Hawks in Utah

By |2021-09-23T13:20:27-05:00December 26th, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Ferruginous Hawks, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Knowing what kind of habitat Ferruginous Hawks prefer during all four seasons here in northern Utah can increase the chances of finding them year round.

Go to Top