Utah

Today Is Utah’s Swan Day For 2024

By |2024-03-09T04:05:56-06:00March 9th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today is March 9th, and it is Utah's Swan Day 2024! The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge auto tour loop is a terrific place to see these lovely white swans.

Female Merlin On International Women’s Day

By |2024-03-08T04:27:58-06:00March 8th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Merlins, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I found and photographed this female Merlin at my local pond last month, and she seemed to be the perfect bird for me to share on International Women's Day.

Ring-billed Gull And A Heart Shaped Snowflake

By |2024-03-04T04:10:28-06:00March 4th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Ring-billed Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It has been six years since I took this photo of a Ring-billed Gull and a heart shaped snowflake in the middle of a winter snowstorm at my local pond.

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World Wildlife Day 2024

By |2024-03-03T10:04:21-06:00March 3rd, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Clark County, Conservation, Great Basin Bumble Bees, House Wrens, Idaho, Long-horned Bees, Moose, Targhee National Forest, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Every March 3, the world comes together to honor World Wildlife Day, a global occasion that pays tribute to the astounding array of life inhabiting our planet.

Dawn Light On A Male Greater Sage-Grouse

By |2024-03-02T11:21:58-06:00March 2nd, 2024|Categories: Birds, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

If I could, I would wish that everyone, at least once in their lifetime, could visit a Greater Sage-Grouse lek while these fascinating birds are displaying.

Male Red-winged Blackbird Singing In A Marsh

By |2024-03-01T04:26:29-06:00March 1st, 2024|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Red-winged Blackbirds, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One week ago, my ears were delighted to hear this male Red-winged Blackbird singing and calling on the marsh at Farmington Bay WMA. His display was mesmerizing.

Flock Of American Avocets At Farmington Bay

By |2024-02-28T10:18:34-06:00February 28th, 2024|Categories: American Avocets, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my last trip to Farmington Bay WMA, I was delighted to have a resting flock of American Avocets in my viewfinder. Seeing these shorebirds delights me.

Drake Common Goldeneyes In Winter

By |2024-02-27T04:35:30-06:00February 27th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Common Goldeneyes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I took this photo of two drake Common Goldeneyes at Bear River MBR almost two years ago, I was laughing as I hit my shutter button. I couldn't help myself.

Winter White-crowned Sparrow Portrait

By |2024-02-26T04:48:15-06:00February 26th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, White-crowned Sparrows|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I haven't seen as many sparrows this winter as I typically do, so I was tickled to take a few White-crowned Sparrow portraits at Farmington Bay WMA on Friday.

My First Of Year Sandhill Crane

By |2024-02-25T04:02:29-06:00February 25th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I was at Farmington Bay WMA two days ago, I heard and saw my first Sandhill Crane of the year. The calling crane was in flight, way off in the distance.

Song Sparrow Serenade – Happy Birthday Chris!

By |2024-02-25T03:16:30-06:00February 24th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Song Sparrows, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was serenaded by this Song Sparrow yesterday on the rut-filled road at Farmington Bay WMA. It might seem odd, but this bird reminded me of my youngest son.

Urban Red-winged Blackbird Male Singing

By |2024-02-23T04:29:49-06:00February 23rd, 2024|Categories: Birds, Red-winged Blackbirds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I dug way back into my files this morning to share this urban Red-winged Blackbird male singing. The date was February 23, 2014, the location was my local pond.

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What Happened To Winter In The Salt Lake Valley?

By |2024-02-22T04:56:12-06:00February 22nd, 2024|Categories: Birds, Common Goldeneyes, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It is almost the end of February and I'm wondering what happened to winter this year in the Salt Lake Valley. Has winter gone on walkabout? Where is the snow?

Tundra Swan – Trumpeter Swan Comparison

By |2024-02-22T03:05:12-06:00February 21st, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Bird ID, Birds, Box Elder County, Trumpeter Swans, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I hope this comparison helps anyone who might be struggling with Trumpeter Swan and Tundra Swan identification in the field or when they are looking at their own photos.

Black-billed Magpie With Nesting Materials

By |2024-02-20T10:36:59-06:00February 20th, 2024|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Black-billed Magpies, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was my first full spring in Utah, nearly 14 years ago, when my keen eyes were used to find my first Black-billed Magpie nest on Antelope Island State Park.

My Video With A Surprise Great Blue Heron

By |2024-02-19T07:35:41-06:00February 19th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my last trip up to Bear River MBR, I stopped to take a video on the auto tour loop, and a Great Blue Heron surprised me by flying into view over the river.

Pied-billed Grebe – Breeding And Nonbreeding Plumage Comparison

By |2024-02-18T05:05:26-06:00February 18th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Pied-billed Grebes, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last week, I took a photo of a Pied-billed Grebe in breeding plumage at my local pond. Today, I decided to do a comparison with one in nonbreeding plumage.

Young Bald Eagle On The Road

By |2024-02-17T04:35:58-06:00February 17th, 2024|Categories: Bald Eagles, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This Bald Eagle photo isn't my best image of this species, and that is alright with me. I took the photo five days ago on the auto tour loop at Bear River MBR.

Surprise Merlin Photos – Two Merlins In A Pear Tree

By |2024-02-15T04:48:47-06:00February 15th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Merlins, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was at one of my local ponds yesterday morning when a gorgeous adult female Merlin flew in and landed on a tree not far from where I stood behind my tripod.

Show Your Love – Don’t Let Balloons Go

By |2024-02-14T04:51:57-06:00February 14th, 2024|Categories: Conservation, Environment, Miscellaneous, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last Sunday I went to some local spots to look for birds. As I was driving, I saw four mylar balloons stuck in some shrubs near the Jordan River. My heart sank.

Canada Geese On The Bear River

By |2024-02-13T04:45:17-06:00February 13th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Canada Geese, Utah, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning, at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, I took a short video of Canada Geese in the road while I was on the north side of the auto tour loop.

Male Great-tailed Grackle On A February Morning

By |2024-03-17T16:57:41-05:00February 12th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Great-tailed Grackles, San Juan County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This male Great-tailed Grackle caught my eye two days ago at one of my local ponds because he was displaying on a red-roofed cupola against a bright blue sky.

Urban American Coot Close Up Photos

By |2024-02-11T05:30:13-06:00February 11th, 2024|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Because it was a bright, sunny day yesterday morning, I went down to my local ponds. I photographed an American Coot munching on frosty grass near one of them.

Young Red-tailed Hawk Up Close

By |2024-02-10T07:41:25-06:00February 10th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The day I photographed this young Red-tailed Hawk, I took 135 images of the immature raptor in just a little over a minute at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

More Greater White-fronted Goose Images

By |2024-02-09T06:07:35-06:00February 9th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Greater White-fronted Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning, I wanted to share more of my Greater White-fronted Goose images I took six days ago. I haven't gone through all of my photos of this goose yet.

American Bison Whispering Secrets

By |2024-02-08T04:40:46-06:00February 8th, 2024|Categories: American Bison, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning I'm sharing a photo of an American Bison that appeared to be whispering secrets to another bison that I photographed on Antelope Island State Park.

Tundra Swans And Precious Memories

By |2024-02-07T04:46:41-06:00February 7th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Tundra Swans and memories are on my mind this morning. Six years ago, I sat in my Jeep watching hundreds of Tundra Swans at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

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