Great Blue Herons Aren’t Really Blue – So What’s Up With Their Name?
The name "Great Blue Heron" has always seemed off to me because these large herons are much more gray than they are blue.
Common Loon In An Uncommon Location
Bird photography was a little slow at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge yesterday morning until I spotted a Common Loon floating on the Bear River.
Immature Great Blue Heron – With And Without The Hand Of Man
Is one of these immature Great Blue Heron images more visually appealing than the other? That depends on the personal tastes of the person viewing them.
Tundra Swans Are Showing Up In Northern Utah
I can barely wait to hear and see my first of season Tundra Swans and to see them on the wing over the marshes that surround the Great Salt Lake.
On The Lookout For Rough-Legged Hawks
I'm hoping that this week I'll be able to spot my first of the season Rough-legged Hawks and that I'll be able to get photos of them too. Fingers are crossed!
Male Checkered White Butterflies On Thistles
A while back I came across some butterfly photos that I had taken on July 19, 2015 that I hadn't processed or identified so recently I went about finding out what species of butterfly I had photographed.
Common Sunflower, Great Basin Bumble Bee And Long-horned Bee At Bear River MBR
When I photographed this Common Sunflower I noticed the Great Basin Bumble Bee right away then I saw the other bee and what appears to be two midges on the upper left quadrant of the flower petals.
Barn Swallow Landing In The Wind
When this Barn Swallow came in to land it struggled a bit with the wind which is why its wings were raised to regain its balance in this image.
Immature Eastern Kingbirds At Bear River MBR
I only had two minutes with these immature Eastern Kingbirds and I felt I had to make every second I had with them in my viewfinder count. I succeeded.
Adjusting To Life During A Global Pandemic
I've felt varying degrees of disappointment when comparing "what should have been" with the way we have had to adjust to life and living during a global pandemic as I am sure many of us have this year.
Wintry View Of Bear River MBR And The Snow-covered Wasatch Mountains
Just viewing this winter photo of the refuge made me feel refreshed and cooler. I also realized it might be hot now but cooler weather will be here before long.
Curious Short-eared Owl Fledgling At Bear River MBR
I took quite a few photos of the fledgling Short-eared Owl that I had a clear view of and even though the lighting wasn't the best I was enchanted by the views I had of it.
Eastern Kingbird Perched On Pickleweed
One of the birds I was excited to see and photograph yesterday morning was an adult Eastern Kingbird perched on a pickleweed next to the road.
Adult Male American Avocet Stretching His Wings
Six years ago in early April I went to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and photographed this male American Avocet stretching his wings while his head was low to the water.
My First Of Year Snowy Egret Sightings
Three days ago I spotted my first of the year Snowy Egret at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge when two egrets flew out of a ditch on the way to the auto tour loop.
Adult Eared Grebe At Bear River MBR Plus A 4.2 Aftershock
The light yesterday morning was a little bit funky because of high, thin clouds overhead but I took a few photos of the birds that I was able to get close to including one of the Eared Grebes.
Virginia Rails – Marsh Birds
Today I wanted to focus on Virginia Rails because I don't find them out in the open very often, they are such secretive marsh birds.
Adult Killdeer Portrait Plus A View Of Bear River MBR In March
I had my best opportunities to take close up photos of Killdeer that I have ever had and I took full advantage of each chance I had with them.
Adult White-faced Ibis In Breeding Plumage
When White-faced Ibis are in breeding plumage it is easy to see how they got their common name, in nonbreeding plumage, not so much.
It’s Nesting Season For Marsh Wrens In Utah
By using a vehicle as a mobile blind I was able to photograph the wrens as they sang, searched for nesting materials, defended their breeding territories and built their nests from a distance.
Song Sparrow Singing On The Marsh At Bear River MBR
I had nice morning light and angled my Jeep so the distant, snowy Promontory Mountains were in the background when I photographed this Song Sparrow singing.
I Heard My First of Season Greater Yellowlegs
I also heard but didn't see my first of year Greater Yellowlegs and although their calls aren't as melodic as those of Savannah Sparrows it was still music to my ears.
Adult Male Red-winged Blackbird Take Off
I took this photo of an adult male Red-winged Blackbird taking off this morning with the distant snow covered Promontory Mountains in the background.
Rough-legged Hawks Will Be Leaving – Swainson’s Hawks Will Arrive Soon
It is almost time for me to see a seasonal switch of raptors here in northern Utah because the Rough-legged Hawks will leaving and the Swainson's will arrive soon.
Sub-adult Bald Eagle Resting In Marsh Habitat
I did find a sub-adult Bald Eagle resting on the ice on the last leg of the refuge loop and even though it was at a distance I wanted to photograph it because of the marshy habitat it was in.
Adult Canada Goose Resting On Ice At Bear River MBR
Yesterday I shared a photo of a Bald Eagle resting on the icy marsh at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and this morning I am sharing a Canada Goose doing exactly the same thing.
Bald Eagle On An Icy Marsh – Small In Frame
Three days ago I photographed an adult Bald Eagle resting on the frost-covered, icy marsh at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah.
Golden Eagle On The Wing
No matter how these Golden Eagle photos came to be I am happy to have photographed this magnificent bird on the wing.
Will Grebes Nest This Year At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge?
When I was at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge three days ago I realized that in just a few weeks the Clark's and Western Grebes will be returning to the marshes for their breeding season.
Great Blue Herons Seeking Shelter From Winter’s Wind
The Great Blue Herons were hunkered down in the rushes with the warmth of the sunlight on them but they still looked cold.