cones

Drought-stricken Douglas Firs – How It Is Affecting The Birds That Eat The Seeds

By |2021-11-07T06:36:30-07:00November 7th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I was out in the sky island mountains of the West Desert of Utah a few days ago I was again met with virtual silence in and around the Douglas Firs that are there.

My Growing Concerns Over This Years Crop Of Douglas Fir Seeds Because Of Our Drought

By |2021-10-24T06:45:41-06:00October 24th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Mountain Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

My trip out into the sky island mountains of the West Desert last week caused my concerns about this years crop of Douglas Fir seeds to grow.

Snow Dusted Views Of Utah’s West Desert Mountains

By |2021-10-14T06:47:43-06:00October 14th, 2021|Categories: Tooele County, Trees, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I saw snow on Utah's West Desert mountains for the first time since late spring so I thought I'd share a few views of what I saw while out there yesterday morning.

Thoughts on Our Drought, Douglas Firs, And Birds

By |2021-09-27T05:44:04-06:00September 27th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Tooele County, Trees, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Drought stressed Douglas Fir trees will produce what is called a "stress crop" of cones which is what I believe is happening to the firs in this location.

More West Desert Red-tailed Hawk Images

By |2022-09-11T04:41:51-06:00September 15th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Red-tailed Hawks, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I went out into the West Desert yesterday and came back with more Red-tailed Hawk images that I was delighted to have taken and that I am happy with.

Poppies, Birds, Trees, Butterflies And A Smoky Haze

By |2023-08-18T12:13:26-06:00August 5th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Flatbud Prickly Poppy, Red-tailed Hawks, Tooele County, Trees, Utah, Weidemeyer's Admiral Butterflies, West Desert, Wildflowers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The first time I raised my lens yesterday morning it was for blooming Prickly Poppies that were along the shoulder of the bumpy gravel road.

Trees, Shrubs, Wildflowers And A Butterfly

By |2024-02-09T04:59:37-07:00May 23rd, 2021|Categories: California Tortoiseshell Butterflies, Shrubs, Tooele County, Trees, Utah, Wasatch Mountains, Wildflowers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On a recent trip to the West Desert sky island mountains in Tooele County I found my lens pointed at trees, shrubs, wildflowers and a butterfly.

The Winds Of Change Affect My Access To Some Mountain Canyons

By |2022-05-27T06:50:25-06:00November 8th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I always feel a sense of sadness when I can't get to those mountain canyons and the birds that live there all year long when they close those gates for the winter.

Photographing Red-breasted Nuthatches Isn’t Easy

By |2023-09-24T03:41:12-06:00October 6th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Red-breasted Nuthatches aren't easy to photograph because they are tiny, they move quickly and their flight patterns are fairly unpredictable. Finding the right habitat, their habitat, can make it fun.

Red-breasted Nuthatch And Juniper Titmouse Photos

By |2023-11-12T05:06:45-07:00April 22nd, 2020|Categories: Birds, Juniper Titmouses, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

These are the stories behind how I took these Red-breasted Nuthatch and Juniper Titmouse photos while relaxing and enjoying a lovely day in the West Desert.

Focusing On Photographing Foraging Mountain Chickadees

By |2021-04-27T16:02:40-06:00November 19th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Mountain Chickadees, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Two mornings ago a small flock of Mountain Chickadees came in to forage on the seeds in some Douglas Fir trees and I had fun trying to keep up with the small dynamos.

Mountain Chickadees Are Fun But Challenging To Photograph

By |2021-04-27T16:05:30-06:00November 8th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Mountain Chickadees, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I spent a few minutes photographing Mountain Chickadees foraging in Douglas Fir trees which was a lot of fun but challenging too.

How Being An Army Brat Netted Me These Red-breasted Nuthatch Photos

By |2022-08-17T04:52:52-06:00November 4th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I proudly credit being an Army Brat on discovering a great location to photograph these Red-breasted Nuthatches and other woodland birds.

Red-breasted Nuthatch – Contrasting Light and Shadows

By |2022-10-02T05:52:32-06:00October 21st, 2019|Categories: Birds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

What I like about this male Red-breasted Nuthatch photo is the contrast of light and shadows. While I can't see all the fine feather details in the shaded part of the nuthatch what I can see is simply enough.

Upside Down Red-breasted Nuthatch In A Fir Tree

By |2023-12-09T05:39:57-07:00April 7th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

While trying to get up into the mountains of the West Desert the other day I heard a call that excited me, it was the call of a single Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Red-breasted Nuthatches Hanging Upside Down

By |2024-03-17T07:52:19-06:00November 11th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

The Red-breasted Nuthatches that I photographed foraging and hanging upside down yesterday weren't calling, they seem to be quiet during that activity but I could hear other nuthatches in the trees all around me.

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