Birds that I find in the field, photograph and share the stories behind the images.
Keeping An Eye On The Sky For Rough-legged Hawks
It is early October but I am already starting to get excited about seeing my first of the season Rough-legged Hawks.
Greater Scaup drake in Autumn
Last autumn I was able to get up close to a drake Greater Scaup at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and I'm hoping that I see more of them this year.
Flying Wild And Free Again – The American Barn Owl Was Released Yesterday
I wanted to let all of my viewers know that yesterday the Barn Owl I helped rescue on September 9th in the Centennial Valley was released at the Lower Lake of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.
Drake Northern Pintail at Farmington Bay on a January Day
I've been thinking about this upcoming winter wondering if we will get a normal amount of snow and of course about the birds I will see on cold mornings at Farmington Bay.
What Is In The Background Of An Image Can Enhance Or Distract
In bird photography what is in the background can enhance or distract the eye from the main subject.
American Pipits
American Pipits were known for a long time as Water Pipits because they feed at the edge of tundra puddles and wet alpine meadows.
Greater Yellowlegs at Farmington Bay
I've been able to photograph several shorebird species the past week and although Greater Yellowlegs are common at Farmington Bay WMA I still think they are quite lovely.
A Lifer for Me – Pectoral Sandpiper at Farmington Bay WMA
It isn't every day that I add a lifer to the list of shorebirds I have seen and photographed but yesterday I did when I saw and photographed a Pectoral Sandpiper.
Snowy Egrets at Farmington Bay
Farmington Bay's Snowy Egrets were the birds I photographed most yesterday because they were cooperative and because they were active, very active.
The First Day of Autumn and the Heat is On in Utah
After a long, hot summer I always look forward to the first day of autumn because it usually means cooler temperatures along with the scenery becoming more colorful as the leaves begin to turn.
I Need To Get A Grip – Really I Do On My Nikon D810
Yesterday I noticed that the rubber grip on my Nikon D810 memory card door has loosened up on a camera that is only 13 months old.
Redhead Drake at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
The Redheads at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge are getting closer to being in their breeding plumage which they normally show from October through June.
Fishing American White Pelican at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
This American White Pelican image was taken in July near the auto tour loop at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and I like how it shows the pelican fishing for food.
Trumpeter Swan Cygnets and Preening, Pin Feathers and Molt
In my last post on the Trumpeter Swan Cygnets On Elk Lake I mentioned that the cygnets spent a lot of time preening and part of the reason they do is they are molting.
Juvenile Swainson’s Hawk stretching its wings
I had wanted to post this photo of a juvenile Swainson's Hawk last week from Montana but because my cell signal was so cruddy I didn't get this image uploaded.
Northern Flicker On A Fence Post In The Centennial Valley
Early on the second morning when I was in Montana last week I was able to photograph this male Northern Flicker on the side and top of a weathered fence post.
Swainson’s Hawk Juvenile Jumping To A New Perch
I photographed a Swainson's Hawk family for several mornings while I was in Montana and this is one of the juveniles I focused on.
Centennial Valley Merlin
I don't often have the opportunity to photograph Merlins so I was plenty excited to find one yesterday on the South Valley Road in the Centennial Valley that stuck around for a bit!
Trumpeter Swan Cygnets On Elk Lake
I am totally enamored by Trumpeter Swans, they are not only graceful and beautiful but the adults seem like such caring parents and keep an ever watchful eye on their young.
A Swainson’s Hawk missed prey hand off
I sat with some juvenile Swainson's Hawks yesterday morning for quite some time and it eventually paid off when an adult came in to hand off prey but the young hawk missed.
A Tragic Sight To See – American Barn Owl Caught On Barb Wire
Yesterday morning I saw a sight that made me ill to see and that is a Barn Owl hung up on a barb wire fence on the south side of the Centennial Valley.
Centennial Valley Swainson’s Hawk
I am enjoying my time in the Centennial Valley especially when I can spend time photographing raptors like this adult light morph Swainson's Hawk.
Bathing Ruddy Turnstone
About half the world's shorebird populations are in decline and with climate change and rising sea levels habitat loss is happening at a faster rate than ever before.
International Vulture Awareness Day
Sure, vultures aren't are handsome as Bald Eagles but they do serve an ecological function of cleaning up carrion so in essence they are nature's recyclers.
An Immature Sage Thrasher On A September Morning
The Sage Thrashers on Antelope Island State Park are busy getting ready for migration and the thrashers hatched this year appear to be almost ready to go.
Drake Mallards in Breeding and Eclipse Plumage
Yesterday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I was able to photograph a Mallard drake as it lifted off from the water on the south side of the auto tour loop.
Welcome September…
The first day of September signals to me that cooler weather is arriving so I took a look back at some of the images I have taken in September from 2008 on.
Adult Virginia Rail And Its Reflection
I am always thrilled when a Virginia Rail comes out into the open because typically they are shy, secretive marsh birds.
Rough-legged Hawk And Thoughts About The Upcoming Winter
I came across this image of a male Rough-legged Hawk taken this past February and it caused me to wonder what this upcoming winter will be like.
Western Grebe with a feather on its bill
Two days ago at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I found a couple of Western Grebes preening in an area where the reflections on the water are always wonderful so I took a series of images.