Horned Lark – Meet The 2026 ABA Bird Of The Year
Meet the Horned Lark, chosen by the American Birding Association as the 2026 ABA Bird of the Year. A bold pick, and honestly a great one.
Bringing in 2026 With A Great Horned Owl
My first bird of the year was a Great Horned Owl I heard around 4:35 this morning. I never saw them, but that call cut through the New Year darkness.
Red-breasted Nuthatch Memories
The weather has kept me out of the field lately, so today I wanted to share a few Red-breasted Nuthatch memories since I’ve been seeing and hearing them recently.
Fall Reflections And Change
Today is the first day of fall. I can’t help but think of Canada Geese on the wing, their calls echoing overhead like the season’s very own soundtrack.
Young Black-necked Stilt Portrait
It was exactly three years ago today when I took this young Black-necked Stilt portrait on the marshes of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah.
Memories Of Sandhill Cranes In The Kamas Valley
On this day two years ago, April Olson rode with me to the Kamas Valley of Utah, where we photographed a flock of Sandhill Cranes getting ready for fall migration.
Warbling Vireo Split – Eastern And Western Warbling-Vireos
Some birders may have added a new life bird yesterday when the AOS split the Warbling Vireo into two species: Eastern and Western Warbling-Vireo.
Blooming Wright’s Buckwheat In The High Uintas Of Utah
Almost two years ago, April Olson traveled with me into the Uinta Mountains of Utah, where I photographed these blooming Wright's Buckwheat.
Nesting Western Grebe Photos From Bear River MBR In Utah
This morning I’m sharing two nesting Western Grebe photos that were taken at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah.
Spring Common Loon Memories – The ABA Bird Of The Year
Today I’m sharing a spring Common Loon photo I took exactly two years ago—on a chilly morning at a pond near where I lived back then in Salt Lake County, Utah.
Double-crested Cormorant Drying Their Wings
Almost two years ago, I was at a small pond in a city park near where I lived in Utah when I photographed this Double-crested Cormorant drying their wings.
American Robin – A Dawn Song Recording
This time of year, American Robins start to sing their dawn song about an hour before sunrise. Not just one American Robin—all of them in the neighborhood.
Snowy Egret Photos Plus A Poop Shot
This morning, I'm sharing three Snowy Egret photos—two because I like them, and the last one because it makes me laugh out loud.
Male Rough-legged Hawk Surveying The Foothills Of The Stansbury Mountains
It's been four years since I photographed this gorgeous male Rough-legged Hawk as he surveyed the foothills of the Stansbury Mountains in Utah's West Desert.
Young Male Northern Harrier Lifting Off
I honestly don’t know why I’ve never shared this photo of a young male Northern Harrier lifting off from the ground at Farmington Bay WMA in Utah until now.
Thinking Back: Male Light Morph Rough-legged Hawk Memories
It’s February again, and that always brings this male light morph Rough-legged Hawk to my mind.
Common Loon vs Fishing Lure
Discarded fishing lures and other tackle can injure, strangle, and kill birds. I don't know how the story ended for this hooked Common Loon.
Drake Lesser Scaup On The Great Salt Lake
This morning, I'm sharing two winter drake Lesser Scaup photos I took three years ago today from the causeway to Antelope Island State Park in Utah.
Cell Phone Issues This Week Made Me Want To Scream
Last week, I decided to switch my cell phone carrier and get a new phone because my ancient one wouldn’t work at all on the new network. What I didn’t know...
Common Loon: The 2025 ABA Bird of the Year
Yesterday, the American Birding Association announced that the Common Loon is the 2025 ABA Bird of the Year, and I was so excited. I love these striking loons!
I Saw My First Forster’s Terns At Sequoyah NWR
On my most recent trip to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, I saw, but didn’t photograph, Forster’s Terns flying and hunting over Sally Jones Lake.
ABA Birding Magazine – December 2024 – My Clark’s Grebe Cover
My Clark's Grebe photo graces the cover of the ABA's Birding Magazine December 2024 edition, and I wanted to share the cover along with what I wrote about it.
It’s Weird Not Seeing California Gulls!
I have to admit that, after living in Utah for nearly fifteen years, it feels weird not seeing California Gulls now that I've moved away. Really weird.
Wild Turkey Images – Happy Thanksgiving 2024
Today, I'm sharing Wild Turkey images of foraging hens I found in the Stansbury Mountains of northern Utah because it's Thanksgiving Day. It was a lovely day.
Red-winged Blackbird Flock Video Clip From Sequoyah NWR
I meant to share this Red-winged Blackbird video clip earlier, but I hadn’t gotten around to merging the two videos and processing them until last night.
My First American Pipit Sighting At Sequoyah NWR
Last week I had my first American Pipit sighting at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. There were quite a few pipits in plowed fields on both sides of the road.
My Arkansas American Herring Gull Sighting
This past week, I had my first ever Arkansas American Herring Gull sighting. I was outdoors when several of these gulls were high overhead, too high for photos.
Memories Of Tundra Swans
A few days ago, an old Facebook memory showed up where I shared that I had seen my first of season Tundra Swans and I realized I won't be seeing them this year.
Happy Halloween 2024!
Happy Halloween! 🎃 Today, I’m sharing a black-and-white photo of a Common Raven calling out from a snowy mound with the Great Salt Lake stretched behind.
American Coot And Concentric Ripples In Water
This morning, I'm sharing an American Coot photo I took last year in Utah. What I like about this photo is the coot and the concentric ripples in the water.