Photographing Pied-billed Grebes With Crayfish – Oh What Fun Can Be Had
The funniest photo I took yesterday, the one that made me laugh out loud the hardest, was when a crayfish landed on the Pied-billed Grebe's head after the bird shook it hard.
Photographing a Bathing American Coot – TC On or TC Off?
I opted to leave my teleconverter on while photographing this bathing American Coot
Pied-billed Grebes With Flying Crayfish – See Food On The Wing
Three afternoons ago I captured images of not just one flying crayfish in the air but two of them because of the Pied-billed Grebes capturing and consuming the freshwater crustaceans.
Brief But Aggressive Encounter Between Pied-Billed Grebes
This aggressive encounter between the two Pied-billed Grebes only lasted a few seconds and if I hadn't been paying attention I would have missed photographing it.
Ring-billed Gulls Flying in a December Snow Storm
The light wasn't great when I photographed these Ring-billed Gulls flying in a December snow storm but I had a great time with the gulls and the rest of the birds.
Feisty, Pugnacious And Aggressive – Why I Enjoy Photographing American Coots
While observing American Coots I can see that they are feisty, pugnacious and aggressive in their behaviors and they don't seem to take any guff from each other.
Double-crested Cormorant After Surfacing
Last December there were several Double-crested Cormorants hanging around my local pond here in northern Utah and I had a great time photographing them.
I Spotted My First of Season Common Merganser
While at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge two days ago I spotted my first of the season Common Merganser from the auto tour route.
Drake Mallards Bathing and Splashing
After bathing the Mallards lift up, flap their wings and shake the water off and I have also noticed them repeat the process of bathing several times in succession. Bathe, shake, flap.
Resting Pied-billed Grebe on Silky Looking Water
The Pied-billed Grebe was a bit too far away to take frame filling images of it but I was okay with that because I feel that the visual appearance of the silky water is just as important as the bird in these photos.
Wondering If “My” Canada x Snow Goose Hybrid Will Be Back This Winter
I've been wondering if "my" Canada x Snow Goose hybrid will be back this winter, if it will show up at the same pond and if I will be able to photograph it again.
Frustrations in Bird Photography – Belted Kingfisher with Branches in the Way
I never did get any decent shots of the Belted Kingfisher yesterday but I am glad to know he is back at the pond and that I should have more opportunities with him... if nothing gets in the way.
Migrating Yellow-rumped Warblers
The Yellow-rumped Warblers are seen in high numbers here in northern Utah during spring and fall migration, these birds are migrating south now.
Male Belted Kingfisher Near The Jordan River
I photographed this male Belted Kingfisher last month as it perched on a thin branch at a small pond close to the Jordan River in Salt Lake County, Utah.
Cinnamon Teal, Short-eared Owl & Red-Tailed Hawk – A Nice Mixture of Birds
It felt great to photograph a nice mixture of birds yesterday and and to be out enjoying the beautiful scenery of northern Utah. Life is good.
American White Pelicans – PeliCam and PeliTrack
American White Pelicans are returning to their breeding grounds in Utah and I have already seen a few of them myself and though I haven't been able to photograph them yet I know I will soon.
Female Belted Kingfisher Looking For And Catching Prey
I took several hundred images of a female Belted Kingfisher looking for and catching prey while it was bright and sunny yesterday afternoon.
Double-crested Cormorant and American Coot in a Snow Storm
It was my photos of a Double-crested Cormorant and American Coot in the snow storm that touched me the most even though both birds are small in the frame.
Comparing Common Gallinules and American Coots
Common Gallinules and American Coots are both from the Rallidae family and there are some similarities in their appearance, for instance both have a triangular bill with a frontal shield at the top.
Pied-billed Grebes in Flight – Rare Sight to See & Photograph
Yesterday afternoon I was at my local pond where I photographed not one but two Pied-billed Grebes in flight. This is rarely seen and rarely photographed.
Canada Geese on Willow Pond
Because they are very common in most North America Canada Geese are often overlooked as subjects by some bird photographers.
Pair of Mallards Mating in February
Mallards form pairs in the fall and courtship can seen during the winter and seeing them mating in February isn't all that unusual.
American Coot Being Chased By Mallards For Food
Early in January I photographed an American Coot being chased by two Mallards for the food it carried in its bill.
Drake Gadwall Flapping His Wings on a Winter Day
Several of the Gadwalls were tipping their heads under the water to feed when this drake started to flap his wings before settling back down on the water.
Possible Name Change for Ring-necked Duck to Ring-billed Duck
In 2017 one of the proposals submitted to the AOS is to rename Ring-necked Ducks to Ring-billed Ducks and I personally am all for the name change!
Feisty Canada Geese Threat Displays
That morning the Canada Geese were the most lively of the subjects I photographed, bathing, mating and exhibiting threat displays.
Ring-billed Gull with Crayfish in the Snow – Plus Our Crazy Weather in Northern Utah Right Now
Last week while I was photographing birds at the local pond I saw a Ring-billed Gull catch a crayfish at the shoreline then it gobbled it up quickly before the rest of the gulls realized it had food.
Ring-billed Gulls Bathing on New Year’s Day
The Ring-billed Gulls up close to me were bathing frequently so I focused on them for a bit to catch them splashing and dipping their heads and bodies into the water.
Common Goldeneyes Have Started Their Courtship Displays
I'm seeing plenty of goldeneyes around right now and I have also begun to see the male Common Goldeneyes performing their courtship displays.
Winter American Coot Portrait
When the birds settled back down on the pond this American Coot walked up onto the shore with the open water behind it and I couldn't resist taking portraits of it.