Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Goldfinch & American Tree Sparrow in Northern Utah
I spent time photographing primarily small birds yesterday in northern Utah which included Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, American Goldfinches and American Tree Sparrows.
Adult and Juvenile European Starlings in Fall Plumage
I have an alternate title for this post which is "Invasive European Starlings perched on invasive Russian Olives" because both the birds in this post and the trees are not native but introduced.
Dorsal view of a Ring-billed Gull in Flight
Just a simple post today of a simple bird, a dorsal view of a Ring-billed Gull in flight over a water feature at Farmington Bay WMA.
Winter Ring-billed Gull Adult
I photographed this adult Ring-billed Gull last winter at my local pond and loved the snow in the frame, the muted colors of the gull's plumage and the pops of color in the eye and bill of the gull.
White-faced Ibis at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge was calling me yesterday morning and I answered that call and photographed several White-faced Ibis from the auto tour route.
Breeding and Nonbreeding Forster’s Terns
The differences in breeding and nonbreeding plumage of Forster's Terns is enough that some bird watching and bird photography novices might even think that they are two different species of terns.
Ring-billed Gull In Earlier Than Normal Definitive Alternate Plumage
I start seeing some Ring-billed Gulls in breeding/Definitive Alternate Plumage in February but I sure didn't expect to see this one on the third day of January, I was quite surprised by it.
Ruddy Turnstone – ABA Bird of the Year 2017
A few days ago the ABA announced the 2017 Bird of the Year as the Ruddy Turnstone and I couldn't be any happier because shorebirds were my "spark" birds that propelled me into the world of bird photography.
Eye Color Variation in California Gulls
The typical eye color for California Gulls is a very dark brown that appears almost black in most cases but there can be variations in their eye color.
Comparing Adult Ring-billed and California Gulls
For most of the year Ring-billed and California Gulls are some of the most common gulls here in northern Utah and for some people it might be challenging to tell them apart.
It is Tricolored Heron Not Tri-colored Heron
I must admit I get a little bonkers though when I see images of birds where the name posted for the species in the photo is incorrect, for instance, it is Tricolored Heron not Tri-colored Heron.
California Gull Hovering Over The Bear River in Winter
I photographed this California Gull hovering over the Bear River with the snow covered Promontory Mountains in the back ground while it looked for prey in the open water below.
Late Migrating American Avocets in Utah
Most of the American Avocets have migrated away from northern Utah but most years we can have a few stragglers that haven't migrated by this time of the year
Laughing Gull Sliding Across the Water
Of the images I took that day on the beach, and there were tons of them, this image of a Laughing Gull sliding across the water as it chased a fish in the shallow waves was one of my favorites.
Migrating American Pipits in Utah – Pipits Everywhere!
American Pipits are migrating through Utah in large numbers right now and yesterday morning at Farmington Bay they seemed to be everywhere!
Close Up American Herring Gull In Flight With A Sea Urchin
I was able to lock on to the Herring Gull in flight with a sea urchin in its bill when it was close enough to me to fill the frame, it was almost too close at that point.
White-faced Ibis foraging at Farmington Bay WMA
There were Snowy Egrets, juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons, Great Blue Herons and this White-faced-Ibis foraging at Farmington Bay to photograph.
Elegant Forster’s Tern In Flight With A Touch Of Added Canvas
I've always loved this image of a Forster's Tern in flight because the pose is wonderful and the tern looks elegant against the gray of a distant storm cloud.
Red-breasted Merganser Floating On The Gulf of Mexico
I photographed this Red-breasted Merganser floating on the Gulf of Mexico on an April morning from the shoreline at Fort De Soto, Florida in April of 2008.
American Avocet Devouring a Tiny Crayfish
I was tickled to photograph this American Avocet as it fed but it wasn't until later that I knew it was devouring a tiny crayfish.
Great Egret Portrait
While walking the boardwalk at the small rookery I was able to get close to this Great Egret that was resting under the canopy of a large tree and took this portrait of it.
Black-bellied Plover On A Foggy Morning
One a fall day at Fort De Soto I was able to photograph this Black-bellied Plover on a foggy morning up close on the beach.
Nonbreeding American Avocet foraging at Bear River MBR
The American Avocets look a bit different now than they did earlier in the year because they are now in their paler, less colorful nonbreeding plumage.
Gulf Shore Great Egret With A Loose Head Feather
This might be the only image I have in my portfolio that shows a Great Egret with a loose head feather waving above its head at a jaunty angle.
A Fort De Soto Snowy Plover
This Gulf Coast Snowy Plover was photographed at Fort De Soto County Park in Florida and the park was the first place I had ever photographed this species.
Sora In The Centennial Valley Of Montana
Last year I had the pleasure of photographing this nonbreeding Sora in the Centennial Valley of Montana.
Piping Plover On A Shell Covered Beach In Florida
I took this image of the Piping Plover on a shell covered beach right after the sun came up when the light had that sweet golden tone to it
An Alert Spotted Sandpiper in Nonbreeding Plumage
This alert Spotted Sandpiper was photographed at Fort De Soto County Park in January of 2009 as it walked down some rip rap towards the water.
Winter California Gull at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Ring-billed and California Gulls are the typical gulls I find in Utah so it wasn't much of a surprise to find this California Gull at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Little Blue Herons On The Hunt
These Little Blue Herons on the hunt were both taken at Fort De Soto in two different tidal lagoons.