Swans, Ducks and Geese

Drake Northern Shoveler And American Coot

By |2024-03-28T04:34:41-05:00March 28th, 2024|Categories: American Coots, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Northern Shovelers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This drake Northern Shoveler swam past me on my last trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I couldn't resist taking photos of him. Why would I want to?

Drake Gadwall At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |2024-03-26T04:27:50-05:00March 26th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Gadwalls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The last time I drove up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, I was delighted to have this drake Gadwall in my viewfinder on the last leg of the auto tour loop.

Immature Common Merganser Shaking Off

By |2024-03-13T07:47:51-05:00March 13th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Common Mergansers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Just a simple photo of an immature Common Merganser today. I took this image of the merganser on the Bear River almost two years ago on a bright, sunny morning.

Today Is Utah’s Swan Day For 2024

By |2024-03-09T04:05:56-06:00March 9th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today is March 9th, and it is Utah's Swan Day 2024! The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge auto tour loop is a terrific place to see these lovely white swans.

Drake Common Goldeneyes In Winter

By |2024-02-27T04:35:30-06:00February 27th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Common Goldeneyes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I took this photo of two drake Common Goldeneyes at Bear River MBR almost two years ago, I was laughing as I hit my shutter button. I couldn't help myself.

What Happened To Winter In The Salt Lake Valley?

By |2024-02-22T04:56:12-06:00February 22nd, 2024|Categories: Birds, Common Goldeneyes, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It is almost the end of February and I'm wondering what happened to winter this year in the Salt Lake Valley. Has winter gone on walkabout? Where is the snow?

Tundra Swan – Trumpeter Swan Comparison

By |2024-02-22T03:05:12-06:00February 21st, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Bird ID, Birds, Box Elder County, Trumpeter Swans, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I hope this comparison helps anyone who might be struggling with Trumpeter Swan and Tundra Swan identification in the field or when they are looking at their own photos.

Canada Geese On The Bear River

By |2024-02-13T04:45:17-06:00February 13th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Canada Geese, Utah, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning, at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, I took a short video of Canada Geese in the road while I was on the north side of the auto tour loop.

More Greater White-fronted Goose Images

By |2024-02-09T06:07:35-06:00February 9th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Greater White-fronted Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning, I wanted to share more of my Greater White-fronted Goose images I took six days ago. I haven't gone through all of my photos of this goose yet.

Tundra Swans And Precious Memories

By |2024-02-07T04:46:41-06:00February 7th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Tundra Swans and memories are on my mind this morning. Six years ago, I sat in my Jeep watching hundreds of Tundra Swans at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

Ten Greater White-fronted Goose Photos

By |2024-02-09T03:42:01-06:00February 4th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Greater White-fronted Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was out running errands yesterday when I found a Greater White-fronted Goose. I drove home to grab my gear so I could photograph this 'specklebelly' goose.

Ring-necked Duck And An Odd Lesser Scaup

By |2024-01-27T12:13:16-06:00January 20th, 2024|Categories: Bird ID, Birds, Lesser Scaups, Ring-necked Ducks, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Seven days ago I found a Ring-necked Duck and an odd Lesser Scaup drake at my local pond. The scaup puzzled me and I wondered if he might be a hybrid.

Drake Ruddy Duck In Early Breeding Plumage

By |2024-01-20T03:52:38-06:00January 19th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Ruddy Ducks, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've been paying a lot of attention to a drake Ruddy Duck at my local pond because he has gone into breeding plumage earlier than is normal for this species.

Common Mergansers And Remote Controlled Harassment

By |2024-01-15T05:09:41-06:00January 15th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Common Mergansers, Harassment, Miscellaneous, Salt Lake County, Utah, Wildlife Ethics|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I photographed these Common Mergansers at my local pond three years ago today. I will explain why I only had a few minutes with the mergansers at my local pond.

Male Mallard Resting In Snow – Connections

By |2024-01-14T04:26:34-06:00January 14th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Mallards, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I visited my local ponds yesterday even though the sky was gray, and snow was falling. While I was there, I photographed this male Mallard resting in the snow.

Fun Drake Mallard At Bear River MBR

By |2024-01-13T03:19:59-06:00January 4th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Mallards, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On New Year's Day morning, I had fun photographing a drake Mallard from the auto tour loop of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge as he lifted off from the marsh.

Drake Northern Pintail At Bear River MBR On New Year’s Day

By |2024-01-03T03:56:24-06:00January 3rd, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Northern Pintails, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was thrilled to find and photograph a handsome drake Northern Pintail out on the auto tour loop of Bear River MBR on New Year's Day morning.

Ruddy Duck Drake – What A Difference 20 Days Makes

By |2024-01-19T04:15:38-06:00December 18th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Ruddy Ducks, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Just 20 days can make a big difference in the way this Ruddy Duck drake looks. His bill is a lot bluer now than it was when I first saw him at my local pond.

Drake Common Goldeneye Landing

By |2023-12-10T04:22:49-06:00December 10th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Common Goldeneyes, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today, I am sharing a simple photo of a drake Common Goldeneye coming in to land on my local pond early in the morning. I took this image a few days ago.

Go to Top