Birds that I find in the field, photograph and share the stories behind the images.
Yesterday afternoon I received an email from the UBird Google group with a first of the year Turkey Vulture sighting and that got me excited.
This Saturday, March 13th, is Swan Day here in Utah. It is a day to celebrate these large, white, beautiful birds that spend time here during the winter.
Earlier this month I had a brief opportunity to photograph a Common Raven on a gate at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge on a bright, beautiful morning.
The calls of a Say's Phoebe are among the sounds I listen for in March and they are the first members of the tyrant flycatcher family I see each year in northern Utah.
When I spotted this immature Bald Eagle high in the Wasatch Mountains three days ago I hoped at some point to get photos of it in flight.
On my last visit to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I heard the unmistakable song of a Marsh Wren singing and throughout the morning I heard more of their songs.
Yesterday I was thrilled to spot and photograph an adult American Tree Sparrow high in the Wasatch Mountains.
Sage Thrashers return to northern Utah in March and it is now time for me to start listening for their songs and melodies.
I photographed this female Belted Kingfisher calling from a branch in March of 2017 close to the Jordan River not far from where I live.
Yesterday morning was clear, bright, chilly, and I spent ten minutes photographing an adult male Rough-legged Hawk that I found in the West Desert.
It was the highlight of my morning to find, observe, listen to, and photograph ten Sandhill Cranes at Bear River MBR yesterday.
I will not be sad to see February 2021 in the rear view mirror. It has been the second worst month for bird photography on record for me. Ever.
Earlier this week while looking through older photos I came across this Loggerhead Shrike perched on a Witness Post image and I chuckled out loud.
Earlier this week I photographed a light morph, adult male Rough-legged Hawk in the West Desert of Utah with three different backgrounds.
When I photographed this male Ruby-crowned Kinglet a few years ago he was foraging in a sumac close to the edge of road in Box Elder County.
Ten days ago when I took this male Spotted Towhee image close to home I had tough, low light conditions to photograph him in.
I photographed Tundra Swans on the ice at Farmington Bay WMA that showed the snow covered Oquirrh Mountains in the background last week.
Yesterday morning I was able to take Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawk lift off photos where both of the raptors still had their feet on their perches.
I took a series of Western Meadowlark photos three mornings ago at Farmington Bay WMA while the sun was shining.
Earlier this week I photographed a male Dark-eyed Junco in snow close to home in poor, low light conditions. I am happy with how the photo turned out.
Today I am sharing two high key type images of an immature Red-tailed Hawk I photographed at Farmington Bay WMA.
After an extremely snowy night and morning I was able to get out yesterday afternoon and take some wintry American Coot portraits close to home.
So far this winter I have only seen one Barn Owl on the wing on the 6th of January as it flew over the marsh at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Two days ago there were plenty of White-crowned Sparrows in the same area where I photographed two Spotted Towhees.
There was about 2 1/2 inches of white stuff on the ground yesterday morning which allowed me to take this snowy Spotted Towhee portrait close to home.
This immature male Northern Harrier photo shows the hawk small in the frame with wintry marsh habitat behind and below it.
One year ago this morning spotting and photographing this adult Golden Eagle at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge was the highlight of an otherwise crappy day.
When the weather forecast looks as dreary as this screenshot shows I find myself day-dreaming about summer birds, warmer days, and cloudless skies.
Eight years ago today I was out in the field photographing a Chukar and snow on Antelope Island State Park.
February isn't too early in the year to spot an American White Pelican on the wing in northern Utah. In fact I expect them to start showing up right about now.