Singing Townsend’s Solitaire Surrounded By Tiny Bugs
Yesterday I was thrilled to listen to and photograph a singing Townsend's Solitaire as it perched on a juniper surrounded by tiny flying bugs.
Drought-stricken Douglas Firs – How It Is Affecting The Birds That Eat The Seeds
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
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.
October West Desert Views Of Clouds, Mountains, And The Moon
Today I wanted to share these photos of some West Desert views of clouds, mountains, and the moon because I'd like to be out there seeing and photographing them all.
How I Found A Flock Of Clark’s Nutcrackers Yesterday
My eyes and my birding instincts didn't lead me astray because there was a Clark's Nutcracker perched at the top of the fir.
Thoughts on Our Drought, Douglas Firs, And Birds
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
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.
Cooperative West Desert Red-tailed Hawk
Last week I photographed a very cooperative adult Red-tailed Hawk that was next to a road in the West Desert of Utah on a smoky morning.
Adult Red-tailed Hawk Lifting Off
It didn't take long before the Red-tailed Hawk raised its wings to lift off from the juniper with a smoky blue sky in the background.
Small Herd Of Mule Deer On A Smoky Morning
Yesterday morning I photographed a small herd of Mule Deer in a smoky haze while I was looking for birds in the West Desert.
Remembering Smokeless Days
The photo I shared today isn't of anything special. It is a West Desert mountain range view. That smokeless blue sky though? I'd give so much to see that again here today.
Poppies, Birds, Trees, Butterflies And A Smoky Haze
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.
Blooming Lewis’s Flax
I wanted to follow my post about a blue bird with blue wildflowers so here are some photos I took last week of Lewis’s Flax which are also known as Wild Blue Flax.
Lark Sparrow In Golden Morning Light
Two days ago I photographed this adult Lark Sparrow that I found perched on an old fence post in golden light in the West Desert of Tooele County.
Chipping Sparrow With Food For Its Chicks
I was photographing a Lark Sparrow when I spotted this Chipping Sparrow with food in its bill fly in and land on a juniper bough.
Recent Birds I’ve Found In The West Desert
Last week I made two trips out to the West Desert and today I am sharing a medley of recent birds that I found while I was out there.
West Desert Rock Wren Photos
I have been able to take more Rock Wren photos in the West Desert the last two times I have wandered out there.
Male Western Tanager Close Up Image
Two days ago I had the opportunity to photograph a male Western Tanager up close in the foothills of some of the sky island mountains in the West Desert of Utah.
Female Black-chinned Hummingbird And A Knothole
Yesterday while out in the sky island mountains of the West Desert I spotted a female Black-chinned Hummingbird repeatedly checking out a knothole in a tree.
Violet-green Swallow Photos
Yesterday I was able to take the Violet-green Swallow photos that I have been dreaming of since I first moved to Utah in 2009.
Spring Female Cassin’s Finch
When this female Cassin's Finch landed next to a creek two days ago in the West Desert I was happy to take her photo.
Singing Rock Wren In The West Desert
Yesterday when I spotted a Rock Wren singing from the top of a juniper in Utah's West Desert I hoped to take a few decent photos of it before it flew away.
Dreaming Of Mountain Bluebirds
I woke up this morning dreaming of Mountain Bluebirds so I thought I would share two images of them from previous springs.
Pronghorn Buck And West Desert Sky Island Mountains
I found and photographed this Pronghorn buck in Utah's West Desert after photographing birds at Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge in April of 2019.
An Immature Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk In The West Desert
The highlight of my morning yesterday was when I spotted an immature light morph Ferruginous Hawk perched on a cedar post in the West Desert.
Male Cassin’s Finch Eating a Mountain Mahogany Seed
Cassin's Finches are year round residents in Utah but I don't see or photograph them nearly as often as I would like.
Barbed Wire Death Trap – Western Meadowlark
Over the past month I thought about whether I wanted to share images and tell the story of this Western Meadowlark that lost its life because of a barbed wire death trap and finally decided that the story needed to be told.
Adult White-crowned Sparrow Perched On A Stump
This is a really simple photo with three features, the White-crowned Sparrow, the stump, and a very dark background.
Kinglets And Turkeys Plus One Scrub-Jay
The Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Wild Turkeys and the Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay made the very bumpy and extremely dusty ride into the mountain canyons well worth taking.
Photographing Red-breasted Nuthatches Isn’t Easy
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.