Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

Herring Gull In Flight Close Up

By |2024-01-06T04:55:52-06:00January 6th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Golden Eagles, Herring Gulls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Three years ago today, I drove the auto tour loop at Bear River MBR alone. One of the birds I photographed that winter morning was this close-up adult Herring Gull in flight.

Winter Great Blue Heron On Thin Bear River Ice – Utah Is On Thin Ice Too

By |2024-01-05T04:58:20-06:00January 5th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I photographed this Great Blue Heron almost two years ago, walking gingerly on the thinning ice of the Bear River. I was on my way to the auto tour loop at the refuge when I spotted this heron.

Fun Drake Mallard At Bear River MBR

By |2024-01-13T03:19:59-06:00January 4th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Mallards, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On New Year's Day morning, I had fun photographing a drake Mallard from the auto tour loop of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge as he lifted off from the marsh.

Drake Northern Pintail At Bear River MBR On New Year’s Day

By |2024-01-03T03:56:24-06:00January 3rd, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Northern Pintails, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was thrilled to find and photograph a handsome drake Northern Pintail out on the auto tour loop of Bear River MBR on New Year's Day morning.

Common Raven – My First Of Year Bird 2024

By |2024-01-02T03:42:26-06:00January 2nd, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Common Ravens, Scenics, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

My first bird of the year for 2024 was a Common Raven I found yesterday morning on my way out to the auto tour loop of Bear River MBR.

Rough-legged Hawk In Dense Fog

By |2023-12-19T05:04:38-06:00December 19th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Some bird photographers might not share a photo like this Rough-legged Hawk in dense fog that I took two years ago today at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

Western Meadowlark And A Windy Morning At Bear River MBR

By |2023-12-14T04:31:13-06:00December 14th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Video, Western Meadowlarks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I didn't photograph many birds at Bear River MBR yesterday because it was windy. I did take photos of this handsome Western Meadowlark at the refuge though.

Bird Talk: American White Pelicans

By |2023-12-11T06:21:22-06:00December 11th, 2023|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Bird ID, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

My subject today is about bird talk: American White Pelicans, my friend Adonis, and his recent first trip back East, and to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Bring On The Snow!

By |2023-12-01T04:51:27-06:00December 1st, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Dark-eyed Juncos, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Great Blue Herons, Ring-billed Gulls, Ring-necked Pheasants, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Snow is supposed to start falling around 10 a.m. where I live in northern Utah. It might be the first significant snowfall of this winter down in the valley.

Autumn Snipe Photos And Common Name Changes

By |2023-11-17T12:13:02-06:00November 17th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Wilson's Snipes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The last time I visited Bear River MBR, I took quite a few photos of Wilson's Snipes. I also wondered what the new name for this snipe species will soon be.

Common Raven Pair At Bear River MBR

By |2023-11-12T04:28:00-06:00November 12th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Common Ravens, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On at least my last three trips up to Bear River MBR, I have found a Common Raven pair in the same general area of the north side of the auto tour route.

Eared And Horned Grebe Nonbreeding Plumage Comparison

By |2024-03-14T06:55:05-05:00November 11th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Bird ID, Birds, Box Elder County, Eared Grebes, Horned Grebes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning, I wanted to share an Eared and Horned Grebe nonbreeding plumage comparison. Why? Because, at this time of year, I can see both species.

Time To See And Hear Tundra Swans

By |2023-11-14T02:57:40-06:00November 10th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Now is a great time to see and hear Tundra Swans from the marshes at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I saw several large flocks of them yesterday from there.

Great Blue Heron Photos In Winter

By |2023-11-08T10:56:11-06:00November 8th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

If you want to take Great Blue Heron photos in winter, on snow and ice, then head to Bear River MBR in Utah after the marsh freezes and the snow starts to fall.

Fall White-faced Ibis Images

By |2023-11-07T03:41:36-06:00November 7th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, White-faced Ibises|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my last trip to Bear River MBR, I was able to take images of this White-faced Ibis preening, leaning, and walking in the wetlands next to the auto tour loop.

Male Red-winged Blackbird And A Saltcedar

By |2023-11-05T04:25:00-06:00November 5th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Red-winged Blackbirds, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I saw this male Red-winged Blackbird perched in a Saltcedar on my last trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and felt I had to stop to photograph him.

American Pipit In Frosted Grasses

By |2023-11-04T04:41:53-05:00November 4th, 2023|Categories: American Pipits, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last Monday, when I photographed this American Pipit at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in frosted grasses, I had several thoughts whirling around in my mind.

Great Blue Heron In A Natural Alcove

By |2023-11-03T02:32:10-05:00November 3rd, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One of my favorite photos from my trip to Bear River MBR last Monday was of this Great Blue Heron in a natural alcove along the bank of the Bear River.

Western Meadowlark Amusement

By |2023-11-02T03:28:19-05:00November 2nd, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Western Meadowlarks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Photographing this Western Meadowlark on Monday on my way back to I-15 from Bear River MBR was so much fun for me that it probably ought to be illegal.

Interesting Pied-billed Grebe Faux Crash-Dive Behavior

By |2023-11-01T04:20:47-05:00November 1st, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Pied-billed Grebes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had a great time observing and photographing a Pied-billed Grebe exhibiting Crash-dive behavior at Bear River MBR from the auto tour loop on Monday.

Wilson’s Snipe Portraits From Bear River MBR

By |2023-11-17T04:02:06-06:00October 31st, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Wilson's Snipes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning, I was beyond thrilled to take several Wilson's Snipe portraits in frosty grasses while I was on the auto tour loop at Bear River MBR.

Fall Killdeer at Bear River MBR

By |2023-10-29T04:21:05-05:00October 29th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Killdeer, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Since moving to Utah, I have seen and photographed Killdeer in every month of the year. It was no surprise that I found several at Bear River MBR last Monday.

Three American Coots Side By Side

By |2023-10-28T04:30:32-05:00October 28th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

What's better than having one coot in my viewfinder? I'd say having three American Coots side by side in my viewfinder at one time!

Fall American White Pelican Images At Bear River MBR

By |2023-10-27T03:56:25-05:00October 27th, 2023|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On this fall morning, I'm sharing three American White Pelican images from Bear River MBR taken earlier this week and a bonus flock photo from last year.

An Incredible Shelf Cloud Over Bear River MBR

By |2023-10-24T05:51:47-05:00October 24th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Miscellaneous, Utah, Weather Phenomena|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today, I am sharing a few images of an incredible shelf cloud over Bear River MBR that I was thrilled to see and photograph yesterday morning.

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