preening

Rare Brown Pelican At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |2021-06-14T13:31:08-06:00September 5th, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Brown Pelicans, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Rarities, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Brown Pelican didn't do much while I had it in my viewfinder and I probably took way too many photos of it but I don't care, it was unique to see here in land-locked Utah and the setting of the Bear River was definitely different than the many times I have photographed this species back East.

Photographing Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk Siblings

By |2023-05-05T10:17:28-06:00August 31st, 2019|Categories: Birds, Red-tailed Hawks, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I spent 26 minutes yesterday photographing juvenile Red-tailed Hawk siblings and had a blast watching them preen, lift off, flying, scratching, resting and landing.

Highlights Of My Bird Photography Trip Yesterday to Bear River MBR

By |2024-03-27T07:07:20-06:00June 3rd, 2019|Categories: American Avocets, American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Box Elder County, Double-crested Cormorants, Long-tailed Weasels, Snowy Plovers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When a bird photography trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge starts with me spotting not just one but two Snowy Plovers out on the flats I just know the day is off to a great start and that is what happened yesterday morning.

Five Male Yellow-headed Blackbird Images From The Marsh At Bear River MBR

By |2024-03-22T05:06:15-06:00May 29th, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I wanted to share a five image series of a male Yellow-headed Blackbird that I photographed in the marshes of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge this morning that I took the second week of May.

Preening Western Grebe At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |2021-04-14T04:28:02-06:00March 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.

White-faced Ibis Overwintering In The Marshes Of Farmington Bay

By |2021-10-25T04:19:25-06:00January 29th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, Wading Birds, White-faced Ibises|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When the clouds cleared out yesterday morning there were birds to be found and today I am focusing my daily post on the White-faced Ibis that overwinter in the marshes of Farmington Bay WMA that I photographed there yesterday.

Lincoln’s Sparrow on Fragrant Sumac in Early Morning Light

By |2023-12-12T09:21:53-07:00September 23rd, 2018|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Lincoln's Sparrows, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Right now Lincoln's Sparrows are moving to lower elevations and migrating south so I see more of them during the fall and early winter than any other time of the year here in Utah.

White-faced Ibis – Birds Of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |2021-10-21T04:45:09-06:00April 24th, 2018|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, White-faced Ibises|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

White-faced Ibis are abundant at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge during their breeding season and they can be easily seen from the 12 mile, self-guided auto tour route feeding in the water impoundments or flying in loose flocks overhead.

Horned Lark Stretching His Left Wing

By |2021-04-03T05:28:33-06:00April 4th, 2018|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Horned Larks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

I like this photo for the eye contact, the fine details in the plumage of the bird, the stretched wing, light and how his one foot is raised, plus I think Horned Larks are beautiful songbirds.

Unusual Behavior – Ring-billed Gull Preening In Flight

By |2021-10-25T08:01:04-06:00January 22nd, 2018|Categories: Birds, Ring-billed Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Three frames later I was glad this Ring-billed Gull's rotund belly caught my eye when through my viewfinder I could see the gull preening while in flight which is unusual behavior in my experience.

An Immature Snow Goose in Salt Lake County

By |2024-03-11T06:32:56-06:00January 11th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Salt Lake County, Snow Geese, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I can't be certain this is the same goose that I saw on December 26th but I found an immature Snow Goose feeding with some Canada Geese in the grass across the pond.

Wondering If “My” Canada x Snow Goose Hybrid Will Be Back This Winter

By |2024-02-13T05:17:34-07:00November 15th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Canada Geese, Hybrid Geese, Salt Lake County, Snow Geese, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

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.

White-faced Ibis at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |2023-11-07T08:38:04-07:00August 2nd, 2017|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, White-faced Ibises|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

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.

Photographing a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk – Remembering to Breathe and Relax

By |2021-05-30T18:15:19-06:00July 5th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I needed time out with the birds yesterday and this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk helped me to relax, breathe and remember that things have a way of working out.

Red-tailed Hawk Fledglings And Some Sad News

By |2021-06-14T04:59:41-06:00July 1st, 2017|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I spotted two of the other Red-tailed Hawk chicks that I have been following since early spring and was delighted that they have now fledged and have both learned to fly.

Turkey Vultures – Feathered Gatekeepers

By |2021-03-12T07:18:41-07:00May 17th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Turkey Vultures, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Normally I prefer natural perches for my subjects but I rather enjoyed photographing these Turkey Vultures and thinking of them as feathered gatekeepers.

Long-billed Curlews – The Candlestick Birds

By |2022-03-31T04:50:23-06:00March 29th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Long-billed Curlews, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I saw quite a few Long-billed Curlews yesterday wandering in the spring grasses and this time I was able to get nice images of them. Nicknames for Long-billed Curlews include "sicklebird" and "candlestick bird."

Photographing Chukars on Antelope Island

By |2020-01-15T05:48:16-07:00March 18th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Chukars, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I was able to spend time photographing a pair of Chukars on Antelope Island State Park in a grassy area that has begun to turn green.

Listening for Long-billed Curlews

By |2020-03-29T10:53:56-06:00March 2nd, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Long-billed Curlews, Pinellas County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The first of March always makes me think of and listen for Long-billed Curlews, our largest shorebird of North America.

Double-crested Cormorant and American Coot in a Snow Storm

By |2024-03-27T06:25:01-06:00February 24th, 2017|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Double-crested Cormorants, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

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.

Male American Kestrel Resting and Preening – One Good Bird Can Make the Day

By |2022-12-10T08:57:55-07:00February 9th, 2017|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I have mentioned before how one good bird can make a day and yesterday that bird was a male American Kestrel resting and preening at Farmington Bay WMA.

Dreaming of Oystercatchers

By |2020-05-16T10:20:54-06:00June 23rd, 2016|Categories: American Oystercatchers, Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last night I spent some time dreaming of oystercatchers. I could hear them in my dream and see them scurrying along the waves.

Resting Double-crested Cormorant at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |2024-03-27T05:55:39-06:00June 17th, 2016|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Double-crested Cormorants, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

I spent the morning at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge yesterday and one of the birds I photographed the most was this resting Double-crested Cormorant.

Short-eared Owl Preening Session

By |2021-03-03T16:07:08-07:00May 30th, 2016|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Short-eared Owls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was able to see and photograph a long Short-eared Owl preening session where I could see the owl's ear canal, uropygial gland and some extremely interesting and twisted poses.

An Intriguing and Very Tame Northern Harrier

By |2021-04-10T07:29:08-06:00May 28th, 2016|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Northern Harriers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I have been photographing Short-eared Owls in northern Utah I have come across this intriguing and very tame Northern Harrier over and over in the same location.

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