Birds

Birds that I find in the field, photograph and share the stories behind the images.

Adult Brown Pelican In Flight

By |April 9th, 2012|Categories: Brown Pelicans, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) were common year round along the Gulf coast when I lived in Florida. I would see them floating in the water, resting on sandbars and beaches, diving for prey and in flight.

Forster’s Terns

By |April 8th, 2012|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Florida, Forster's Terns, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I moved from Florida to Utah I felt it was fortunate that some of the nonbreeding birds I used to see in Florida during the winter I now get to see in breeding plumage on their nesting grounds.

One Fearless Sage Thrasher

By |April 7th, 2012|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Sage Thrashers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This past week I have seen a few Sage Thrashers on Antelope Island State Park and although none of them were close enough to photograph I know it won't be long before I will be able to create new images of them.

Great Egret Hunting in Still Waters

By |April 2nd, 2012|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Great Egrets|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've always liked the calm mood this image conveys partially because the stalking pose of the Great Egret (Ardea alba), the silky smooth surface of the water, the reflection and how the out of focus Snowy Egret and Little Blue Heron give the frame a depth that wouldn't be there without them.

Lesson Learned – Beyond The Viewfinder

By |March 31st, 2012|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Chukars, Davis County, Utah, Western Meadowlarks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Had I not seen that moving, tan blob beyond my viewfinder I could have easily missed being able to create these Chukar images. Sure, I have hundreds (if not thousands) of Chukar images but I am always looking for different poses, light conditions and settings to photograph my subjects in and this worked out very well.

Yellow-headed Blackbirds – Friday Photos

By |March 30th, 2012|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yellow-headed Blackbirds have begun to show up in large numbers in my area of the country. I'm seeing them perched on cattails, phragmites and in flight.

Long-billed Curlews… I Heard You!

By |March 29th, 2012|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Long-billed Curlews, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , |

The Long-billed Curlews (Numenius americanus) have returned to their breeding grounds! I would have jumped for joy but when you are inside a vehicle that can lead to a severe headache after hitting your skull on the roof. :-)

Semipalmated Plover On Mudflats

By |March 28th, 2012|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Semipalmated Plovers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

When I photographed Semipalmated Plovers in Florida I found that if I got down to their level and laid still they would approach me very closely. That takes patience but the effort is well worth it.

Bald Eagles In Northern Utah

By |March 26th, 2012|Categories: Bald Eagles, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Normally during the month of February Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area has hundreds of Bald Eagles within its boundaries but that was not the case in February 2012.

White-faced Ibis in flight

By |March 22nd, 2012|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, White-faced Ibises|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

White-faced Ibises (Plegadis chihi) breed and nest in the freshwater marshes around the Great Salt Lake. Generally they migrate south for the winter though this winter there were a few that stayed at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area.

Brewer’s Blackbirds

By |March 16th, 2012|Categories: Birds, Brewer's Blackbirds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Brewer's Blackbirds may not be the most well known of the Blackbird family; I am fairly certain that the Red-winged Blackbirds have that claim to fame, but they are beautiful and interesting subjects to photograph.

Chukars And Fighting For The Right To Mate

By |March 15th, 2012|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Chukars, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The behavior of the Chukars indicates that the males are already acting territorial and fighting for the right to mate.

Feathers & Fur

By |March 13th, 2012|Categories: American Bison, Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Coyotes, Horned Larks, Loggerhead Shrikes, Pronghorn, Tooele County, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today I thought I would post a few images taken this past week from Antelope Island State Park and the west desert in Tooele County. Feathers & Fur.

American Oystercatcher Feeding

By |March 12th, 2012|Categories: American Oystercatchers, Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've always liked this photo because it shows how this American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is using its long bill to pry open a shell.

Oh Long-billed Curlew, When Will I Hear You?

By |March 11th, 2012|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Fort De Soto County Park, Long-billed Curlews|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

A few days ago I read that a Long-billed Curlew had been spotted on Antelope Island State Park and that got me excited. I've waited to see them again since they left last fall and I simply can not wait to hear their mysterious and hauntingly beautiful call.

Chukars in Western Habitat

By |March 10th, 2012|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Chukars, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Chukars are not native to North America, they were introduced as game birds and in some areas they have thrived, one of those locations is Antelope Island State Park in northern Utah.

Prairie Falcon ~ The Fun Keeps Going

By |March 6th, 2012|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Prairie Falcons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

I have had an amazing time photographing Prairie Falcons (Falco mexicanus) since last fall. Since the ducks are no longer near the causeway to Antelope Island I have had a more difficult time locating them because they are now searching for their normal winter diet of Western Meadowlarks and Horned Larks which are found more "inland" on the island.

Go to Top