Marsh Wren Nesting Season Has Begun At Bear River MBR

By |March 23rd, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Marsh Wrens, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Marsh Wren nesting season has begun here in northern Utah and in my opinion one of the best places to see, listen to and photograph them is from the auto tour route at Bear River MBR.

Rufous Morph Red-tailed Hawk Taking Flight Photos

By |March 22nd, 2019|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

By the time I took this next image in the series the Red-tailed Hawk had straightened her legs, her wings were high over her body and she was pushing off from the rock.

Early Spring American Tree Sparrow

By |March 19th, 2019|Categories: American Tree Sparrows, Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

The last time I wrote about American Tree Sparrows I said that they would be migrating soon and that I hoped I could take a few more photos of them before they migrated and I had that opportunity two days ago.

Yellow-bellied Marmot Family In Early Spring

By |March 18th, 2019|Categories: Box Elder County, Utah, Yellow-bellied Marmots|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Yellow-bellied Marmot pup spent most of its time exploring the area around its burrow, climbing up and down the rocks, sitting, standing, scratching its fur, looking around and being a marmot pup in the wild where they belong.

Nesting Red-tailed Hawks – Plus Guidelines On Photographing Nesting Birds

By |March 17th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I'm happy to see that the rufous female Red-tailed Hawk does have a mate and that they are building a nest to raise their young in, I hope they are successful.

Common Raven Close Ups On The Shoreline of the Great Salt Lake

By |March 16th, 2019|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Common Ravens, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

At first the Common Raven was near the side of the road but it moved down the rocks and got closer to the lake and where it poked around in the rocks.

One Stunning Rufous Red-tailed Hawk – How Finding It Saved My Day

By |March 13th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

If I hadn't found and pointed out this stunning rufous Red-tailed Hawk yesterday morning I would have basically come home without a single decent image of a bird.

Adult Bald Eagle at Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge

By |March 10th, 2019|Categories: Bald Eagles, Birds, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Juab County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

One of my trips out to Fish Springs NWR happened during this time of the year and while I was there so was a gorgeous adult Bald Eagle that perched in the trees near the picnic area not too far from the refuge headquarters.

Migrating Turkey Vultures Are On The Wing

By |March 9th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Turkey Vultures, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

I miss seeing and photographing Turkey Vultures during the winter and now I am excited that very soon I'll be seeing them roosting on fence posts, rocky outcroppings, cattle gates, trees, corrals and the ground, riding the thermals, thermoregulating and scarfing up road kill all over the place!

Yellow-bellied Marmot Pup Warming Up On The Rocks

By |March 7th, 2019|Categories: Box Elder County, Utah, Wildlife, Yellow-bellied Marmots|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yellow-bellied Marmots are also called "Whistle Pigs" and "Rock Chucks" so I have to wonder should I call their pups "Whistle Piglets" and "Rock Chucklets" or just call them cute and adorable?

Early Franklin’s Gull at Bear River MBR on March 6, 2018

By |March 6th, 2019|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Beaverhead County, Birds, Box Elder County, Centennial Valley, Davis County, Franklin's Gulls, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I had the Sandhill Crane and the Ring-billed Gulls in my view finder I heard a call and it only took a second for my brain to figure out that I was hearing a Franklin's Gull which surprised me because it was at the refuge much earlier than I have ever seen one there before.

Photographing Tundra Swans And Northern Pintails In Low Light

By |March 5th, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Northern Pintails, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Our Tundra Swans won't be at the refuge much longer and will soon be winging their way to their breeding grounds in the Arctic and I realize that my opportunities to photograph them before they leave are dwindling.

Preening Western Grebe At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |March 4th, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Western Grebes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Migrating Western Grebes are already being reported at Utah Lake, Bountiful Pond and Farmington Bay WMA and before too long they will be found at other locations here in northern Utah.

An Orange-crowned Warbler Foraging on Utah Serviceberries

By |March 3rd, 2019|Categories: Birds, Morgan County, Orange-crowned Warblers, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This Orange-crowned Warbler was only in my viewfinder for about a minute but she gave me great views and quite a few different poses to photograph and I was delighted with the photos I took.

Winter California Gull Splashing On Landing – Goodbye February

By |March 1st, 2019|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On one of the brighter afternoons I spent just 15 minutes at the local pond and came away with lots of photos of winter California Gulls bathing, flying and landing and among those I liked this image the most.

Short-eared Owl With A Stormy Sky – Small In The Frame

By |February 28th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Short-eared Owls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

I love the darkness and the light in the stormy sky in the background, how well lit the Short-eared Owl was and the position of his wings in flight and I like that he is small in this frame because this is often the view that I and others have of these wonderful owls in the field.

Our American Tree Sparrows Will Soon Be Winging Their Way North

By |February 27th, 2019|Categories: American Tree Sparrows, Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Before too long these small but handsome American Tree Sparrows will be winging their way north to their breeding grounds in the thickets and open tundra of northern Canada and Alaska.

Back View Of An Immature Female Northern Harrier Hovering

By |February 24th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Northern Harriers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Would you be able to ID this hawk from just this image or similar view of it in the field if I hadn't already identified it in my title and my photo caption?

Winter American Barn Owls In Flight During Daylight Are Hungry

By |February 23rd, 2019|Categories: American Barn Owls, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I always feel fortunate when I am able to photograph winter Barn Owls in flight during daylight hours but that means that these gorgeous owls are struggling to stay alive and that is a concern for me.

White-tailed Antelope Squirrel Resting On A Boulder In Wayne County, Utah

By |February 22nd, 2019|Categories: Utah, Wayne County, White-tailed Antelope Squirrels, Wildlife|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

I photographed this White-tailed Antelope Squirrel in 2016 near Torrey in Wayne County, Utah, the squirrel was resting on a boulder a couple hundred yards away from where I was camping.

Rough-legged Hawk Expelling A Pellet Close Up Photos

By |February 20th, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've never been this close to a Rough-legged Hawk expelling a pellet before and it is likely that I will never be this fortunate again. This Rough-legged Hawk was my best bird for the day and I'm glad I stopped and waited for him to expel the pellet before moving on down the auto tour route.

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