raptors

Intermediate Morph Swainson’s Hawk In Flight

By |2021-04-15T03:54:17-05:00April 26th, 2018|Categories: Box Elder County, Swainson's Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last week I was able to photograph several Swainson's Hawks, some perched and others while in flight and of the flight photos I liked this photo the most because of the mountains in the background.

Dark Morph Swainson’s Hawk – Possibly The Darkest I Have Ever Seen

By |2021-04-15T04:57:47-05:00April 18th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Swainson's Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Just about one year ago I was thrilled to photograph a very cooperative dark morph Swainson's Hawk that is possibly the darkest, dark morph I have ever seen.

More Frustrations With Photographing Golden Eagles

By |2021-06-01T14:20:11-05:00April 16th, 2018|Categories: Box Elder County, Golden Eagles, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I get absolutely tired of the frustrations I have had trying to photograph Golden Eagles, it seems that something or someone always messes with my chances of getting the images I want of them.

I Would Love To Photograph THIS Red-tailed Hawk In Good Light Just Once

By |2023-12-12T09:47:55-06:00April 2nd, 2018|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

This particular Red-tailed Hawk has such a striking appearance and not one of the photos I have taken of it thus far show just how freaking gorgeous it actually is.

Nest Building Marsh Wren Plus A Surprise Ferruginous Hawk And FOY Swainson’s Hawk

By |2023-09-19T16:10:52-05:00March 28th, 2018|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Ferruginous Hawks, Marsh Wrens, Swainson's Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was a wonderful morning spotting both the Ferruginous and Swainson's Hawks, seeing quite a few other first of season birds and spending time photographing the Marsh Wren while he was busy constructing his nest.

Cruddy Light, Cloudy Skies Plus a Red-tailed Hawk

By |2024-05-08T16:03:15-05:00March 25th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

I would have been totally skunked yesterday if I hadn't spotted the top of this Red-tailed Hawk's head and some wing movement where it was buried in a sagebrush next to a hillside.

Red-tailed Hawk Perched on a Sagebrush Covered Hillside

By |2024-02-05T03:45:53-06:00March 24th, 2018|Categories: Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

It is the time of year when Red-tailed Hawks begin to nest, by now most of them here in northern Utah have already selected a mate so they find a nesting location and start to collect nesting materials as the days grow longer and warmer.

Man Arrested for Illegal Mass Killing of Raptors in California

By |2021-03-04T04:18:52-06:00March 15th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah, Utah County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I seriously don't know why some people do the things they do and there are times that I read articles and find myself simultaneously exceedingly sad and tremendously angry when those articles have to do with the malicious, illegal killing of birds and wildlife.

Swainson’s Hawks Heading Our Way

By |2021-03-31T14:18:50-05:00February 28th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Swainson's Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

These two Swainson's Hawk photos were taken in May of last year up in northern Utah from inside a vehicle being used as a mobile blind and both were photographed from the side of a road where they had become accustomed to traffic going by so they weren't skittish at all.

Rough-legged Hawk Lift Off At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |2021-11-06T07:49:28-05:00February 8th, 2018|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Rough-legged Hawk's wings were fully extended above its body while its feet were still firmly planted on the ground and with one downward swoop of its long wings it was airborne right after this was photo was created.

Immature Red-tailed Hawk Lift Off and Flight at Farmington Bay

By |2021-05-03T03:21:45-05:00January 30th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One good bird can make my day... Yesterday that bird was an immature Red-tailed Hawk at Farmington Bay WMA that lifted off from a metal post and flew over the marsh.

Surprise Peregrine Falcon With Prey On A Brisk Winter Morning

By |2024-03-14T06:26:27-05:00January 5th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Peregrine Falcons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Finding and photographing the surprise Peregrine Falcon with prey was one of the brightest spots of my day.

Male American Kestrel On A Sign Post With His Prey

By |2024-01-15T09:53:42-06:00January 3rd, 2018|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've found American Kestrels to be "stickier" in cold weather and it wasn't much above 20°F when I photographed him as he consumed the vole bit by bit.

Immature Light Morph Rough-legged Hawk in Flight & Landing

By |2022-12-15T09:48:05-06:00December 23rd, 2017|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Eight days ago I spent time photographing an immature, light morph Rough-legged Hawk at Farmington Bay WMA in northern Utah.

Immature Rough-legged Hawk – Lift Off, Landing & Lunch

By |2021-11-06T07:26:17-05:00December 16th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I was able to photograph an immature Rough-legged Hawk lifting off, landing and lunching at Farmington Bay WMA in northern Utah.

Female and Male American Kestrel Comparison

By |2024-02-18T18:12:01-06:00December 10th, 2017|Categories: American Kestrels, Bird ID, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've seen people struggle with seeing the differences between male and female American Kestrels and I hope this simple comparison will help.

Wondering How the Lone Surviving Red-tailed Hawk Juvenile Is Doing

By |2021-03-22T09:43:01-05:00November 25th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've been thinking a lot about the lone surviving Red-tailed Hawk from the nest that blew down because of strong winds earlier in June.

Immature Red-tailed Hawk Taking Flight In Northern Utah

By |2021-03-03T16:17:42-06:00November 19th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday was one of those days where I thought I would come home and not have any images worth keeping until I spotted an immature Red-tailed Hawk perched on a tree near the road.

Side By Side Prairie and Peregrine Falcon Comparison

By |2024-05-13T15:06:50-05:00November 18th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

There are other differences in plumage between Prairie and Peregrine Falcons that show in my photos but by using just their heads it is possible to make a quick ID in the field.

Birds and Beasts in a November 2012 Snow Storm on Antelope Island

By |2017-11-10T07:37:18-06:00November 10th, 2017|Categories: American Bison, Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Coyotes, Davis County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The birds and beasts on Antelope can survive the harsh winters here but as each years passes I wonder how they will be able to adapt to our changing climate. I can't help but be concerned.

Feathered Tarsi – Ferruginous & Rough-legged Hawks Have Feathered Legs

By |2021-09-23T13:46:17-05:00November 7th, 2017|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Ferruginous Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Swainson's Hawks, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

North America has two hawk (buteos) species that have feathered tarsi, or legs, those two species are Ferruginous Hawks and Rough-legged Hawks.

Immature Red-tailed Hawk Looking At The Rising Sun – Plus a New Personal Challenge

By |2017-11-03T06:27:23-05:00November 3rd, 2017|Categories: Birds, Red-tailed Hawks, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I have wondered lately if I have gotten into a bit of a rut, photographically speaking, of always wanting to have the sun over my shoulder with "perfect" light falling directly on my subject.

Ferruginous Hawk, Harvest Moon and the Rising Sun

By |2021-09-23T09:53:33-05:00October 7th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Ferruginous Hawks, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Truthfully I had better luck with the moon and mountains than I did birds yesterday except for one handsome Ferruginous Hawk perched along the road near farm lands.

Two Red-tailed Hawks in Idaho – One Year With The Nikon D500

By |2023-12-08T04:54:29-06:00September 15th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Clark County, Idaho, Red-tailed Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

A year ago today I was photographing lots of Red-tailed Hawks in Clark County, Idaho and using my Nikon D500 in the field for the first time.

Juvenile Burrowing Owl VS a Juvenile Peregrine Falcon

By |2021-12-20T05:36:40-06:00August 21st, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Burrowing Owls, Davis County, Peregrine Falcons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Eight years ago today I didn't know that it would be the last time I'd photograph the Burrowing Owl family together and that a juvenile Peregrine Falcon would have a part in that.

Go to Top