Welcome 2022 – Time To Put The New Year Into Focus
As I sit here this morning wrapped in a blanket to ward off the morning chill I welcome 2022 and realize that it is time to put the New Year into focus.
Male Rough-legged Hawk – The First Bird I Photographed in 2021
The first bird I photographed in 2021 was this adult male Rough-legged Hawk perched above the wetlands at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Stretching Male American Kestrel In A Russian Olive
On the 3rd of December I spotted a small, colorful shape from a distance in a Russian Olive tree and knew immediately that I had found a male American Kestrel.
Happy Holidays 2021 And A Story From Christmas Past
This Christmas Eve morning is so very different from the one I had in 1998. I was sitting at my computer that morning much the same as I am now but I lived in Virginia then and I was going through some rough times.
Great Egret, Mallards and Hooded and Common Mergansers On The Bear River
The Great Egret landed where I had views of Hooded and Common Mergansers and three Mallards resting on the ice on the Bear River.
Great Blue Heron Photos Taken on The Winter Solstice
To my delight I was able to take Great Blue Heron photos yesterday on the Winter Solstice that I found on the banks of the Bear River at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
ABA Bird Of The Year 2022 – The Burrowing Owl!
It was announced yesterday that the Burrowing Owl is the 2022 ABA Bird of the Year! Burrowing Owls are small, long-legged, sandy-colored, charismatic owls with bright yellow eyes.
Male Rough-legged Hawk On A National Wildlife Refuge Sign
Nine days ago this Rough-legged Hawk resting on a National Wildlife sign in low light was the first hawk I spotted and photographed.
Loggerhead Shrike At Bear River MBR
On my last trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I found this Loggerhead Shrike perched on a twig near the end of the auto tour loop.
Female Hooded Merganser Lifting Off From The Bear River
I spotted a single female Hooded Merganser on the Bear River two days ago and photographed her as she ran on top of the water to lift off.
Late Clark’s Grebe Plus A Rough-legged Hawk On A One Way Sign
Yesterday I found and pointed out a few birds at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge including a very late Clark's Grebe I spotted from the auto tour route.
Merlin On A Large Wooden Post At Bear River MBR
Last week I spotted a Merlin perched on a large wooden post way out in the marsh at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah.
Adult Rough-legged Hawk Calling Plus Photos Of A Younger Roughie
Yesterday I heard a male Rough-legged Hawk calling which is highly unusual away from their breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra and taiga of the far north.
American Pipits In My Viewfinder
I've been seeing and hearing American Pipits since the end of September but this was the first time this fall I was able to get close to them.
Eared Grebe Photos – These Grebes Have Such Fluffy Butts
Yesterday morning at Bear River MBR I spotted a single Eared Grebe in the marsh and stopped to take photos of it.
Help With Drake Scaup Identification
Every fall and winter when Lesser and Greater Scaups are seen in northern Utah I hear questions about scaup identification.
Thanksgiving 2021
Despite how rough this year has been this morning on Thanksgiving Day I want to write about thankfulness and gratitude.
Ruddy Ducks In Flight
A few days ago I saw someone say that they rarely saw photos of Ruddy Ducks in flight and I remembered I had a series of them flying past taken 11 years ago.
Dark Morph Red-tailed Hawk Lifting Off With Prey
Yesterday morning I spotted this dark morph Red-tailed Hawk high on a cliff and I was able to photograph him as he lifted off with prey in his talons.
Fall Wild Turkey Hen Images
I spotted this Wild Turkey hen walking on a rusty, metal beam of a dilapidated pole barn and I knew that I had to take images of her.
Loggerhead Shrike On A Wild Rose In Front of The Dying Great Salt Lake
Had I taken these Loggerhead Shrike photos four to five years ago the background wouldn't have been dry lake bed. It would have shown water. Precious, life-giving water.
Focusing On Fall Wild Turkey Tom Photos
Yesterday morning the first birds I focused on taking photos of were Wild Turkey toms as they displayed for each other on desert ranchlands in northern Utah.
Fall Song Sparrow Photos
Earlier this month I had an opportunity to take a few fall Song Sparrow photos while way up in Box Elder County in northern Utah.
Well Crap – Another Cloudy Day
I selected this hatch year Great Blue Heron photo to share today because it showed the young bird taking a crap on the flats of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Autumn Common Loon Memory
Almost one year ago I spotted a Common Loon floating on the Bear River after a somewhat disappointing morning for birds at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
It Is Time To Look And Listen For Tundra Swans In Northern Utah
This morning I noticed in my Facebook memories that I saw and heard my first of season Tundra Swans at Bear River MBR on this date in 2015 and that made me happy.
Immature White-crowned Sparrow Photos In Fall
When I was way up north in Box Elder County three days ago I had the opportunity to take immature White-crowned Sparrow photos with fall colors in the frames.
Fall Wild Turkey Hen Foraging On Desert Ranchlands
The first photos I took with my newly refurbished Nikon D500 with a new shutter assembly were of this Wild Turkey hen foraging on desert ranchlands.
Autumn Loggerhead Shrike
This adult Loggerhead Shrike perched on a Fragrant Sumac was among the birds that I found yesterday morning way up in northern Utah.
Dark and light morph Red-tailed Hawk Photos
I almost missed finding this adult dark morph Red-tailed Hawk last Sunday because when I first spotted the hawk he was behind a tree in dark shadows but I recognized the shape and form of the raptor.