Utah

Riverbank Red-tailed Hawk Dining Al Fresco

By |2024-01-08T03:21:56-06:00January 9th, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I photographed an immature Red-tailed Hawk dining al fresco on the bank of the Bear River on my way back to I-15 to head home.

One Very Cooperative Male Rough-legged Hawk

By |2022-01-06T03:56:07-06:00January 3rd, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

For the second year in a row the first bird I photographed in the New Year was a Rough-legged Hawk and both were photographed at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

Great Blue Heron Photos Taken on The Winter Solstice

By |2021-12-22T05:20:56-06:00December 22nd, 2021|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

To my delight I was able to take Great Blue Heron photos yesterday on the Winter Solstice that I found on the banks of the Bear River at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

ABA Bird Of The Year 2022 – The Burrowing Owl!

By |2022-04-26T09:24:42-05:00December 20th, 2021|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Box Elder County, Burrowing Owls, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was announced yesterday that the Burrowing Owl is the 2022 ABA Bird of the Year! Burrowing Owls are small, long-legged, sandy-colored, charismatic owls with bright yellow eyes.

Adult Rough-legged Hawk Calling Plus Photos Of A Younger Roughie

By |2021-12-06T05:11:44-06:00December 6th, 2021|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday I heard a male Rough-legged Hawk calling which is highly unusual away from their breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra and taiga of the far north.

American Pipits In My Viewfinder

By |2021-12-05T04:54:33-06:00December 5th, 2021|Categories: American Pipits, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've been seeing and hearing American Pipits since the end of September but this was the first time this fall I was able to get close to them.

Adult Female Northern Harrier Lifting Off From A Tumbleweed

By |2021-11-23T04:48:56-06:00November 23rd, 2021|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Northern Harriers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I spotted this adult female Northern Harrier resting on a tumbleweed yesterday morning it took a few moments for me to point her out.

How I Found My First Of Season Rough-legged Hawks

By |2021-11-06T06:02:36-05:00November 6th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Common Ravens, Rough-legged Hawks, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was a very memorable first of year sighting of these Rough-legged Hawks. The kind where you sit there wondering if you really saw what you saw.

My First White-throated Sparrow Sighting In Utah

By |2021-11-05T07:10:27-05:00November 5th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, White-throated Sparrows|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday I found my first White-throated Sparrow in Utah, photographed it, and when I pointed it out to a friend this sparrow became a lifer for them.

How I Found This Secretive Virginia Rail At Farmington Bay

By |2021-10-16T05:35:26-05:00October 16th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, Virginia Rails|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today I wanted to write about how I found this secretive Virginia Rail in the marsh at Farmington Bay WMA yesterday morning.

Immature Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk

By |2021-09-22T05:19:38-05:00September 22nd, 2021|Categories: Birds, Ferruginous Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday on the last full day of summer I found a couple of hawks in the West Desert including this immature light morph Ferruginous Hawk.

Migrating Greater Yellowlegs

By |2021-09-21T03:55:10-05:00September 21st, 2021|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Greater Yellowlegs, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Greater Yellowlegs migrate starting in the summer until late in the fall and return early in the spring. I will be seeing them until about December here in Utah.

Immature Light Morph Red-tailed Hawk Plus A Dark Morph Adult

By |2021-09-19T05:36:07-05:00September 19th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I spotted the light colored breast of this immature light morph Red-tailed Hawk from a distance it seemed to glow in the morning light.

Late Summer Turkey Vulture And Common Sunflowers

By |2021-09-16T05:29:32-05:00September 16th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Turkey Vultures, Utah, Wildflowers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday I found an adult Turkey Vulture perched on a metal pipe with a field of sunflowers below and it behind it. I liked the pop of yellow in my photos of this bird.

Our Sage Thrashers Will Migrate Soon

By |2021-09-17T09:13:58-05:00August 30th, 2021|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Sage Thrashers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Sage Thrashers are only in Utah for their breeding season and by now all their chicks have fledged and are feeding on their own.

Black-capped Chickadee Photos – Foraging in Common Mulleins

By |2024-03-23T14:42:42-05:00August 28th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Black-capped Chickadees, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains, Wildflowers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Two days ago I was able to spend a few minutes taking Black-capped Chickadee photos as small flock of them foraged in Common Mulleins.

Immature Common Yellowthroat In The Wasatch Mountains

By |2022-04-26T09:23:39-05:00August 25th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Common Yellowthroats, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was thrilled to have an immature Common Yellowthroat out in the open and in my viewfinder two days ago high in the Wasatch Mountains.

Male Belted Kingfisher Plus A Rare Migrant Northern Waterthrush

By |2021-08-24T06:18:14-05:00August 24th, 2021|Categories: Belted Kingfishers, Birds, Northern Waterthrushes, Rarities, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

If I hadn't been sitting exactly where I was at the time I was photographing the Belted Kingfisher I would have missed out on seeing this rare Northern Waterthrush.

Nesting Western Grebe Plus Good News On The Parleys Canyon Fire

By |2021-08-18T06:58:41-05:00August 18th, 2021|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Western Grebes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One year ago today I found a nesting Western Grebe with two eggs at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and I realized yesterday that I had never shared photos of it.

Roundleaf Snowberry Berries

By |2021-08-16T06:26:27-05:00August 16th, 2021|Categories: Morgan County, Shrubs, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last week while I was up in the Wasatch Mountains I had the opportunity to take photos of Roundleaf Snowberry berries in between photographing birds.

Summer Willow Flycatcher Photos

By |2021-08-01T06:00:13-05:00August 1st, 2021|Categories: Birds, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains, Willow Flycatchers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I was able to spend time taking Willow Flycatcher photos high in the mountains with clear skies overhead as I watched the flycatchers hunting for prey.

Yellow Warbler Photographed In A Smoky Haze

By |2021-07-27T06:04:21-05:00July 27th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains, Yellow Warblers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning the second bird I photographed was a Yellow Warbler on an old branch in a smoky haze high in the Wasatch Mountains.

Spotted Sandpiper Chick Photos

By |2021-07-26T06:30:00-05:00July 26th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Spotted Sandpipers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I haven't seen any Spotted Sandpiper chicks in a location in the Wasatch Mountains where I normally see them at this time of the year but I have these from last summer.

Least Chipmunk On A Smoky Morning In The Mountains

By |2021-07-13T13:04:00-05:00July 13th, 2021|Categories: Least Chipmunks, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I couldn't escape the smoke that is covering Utah even high in the Wasatch Mountains yesterday but I was delighted to photograph a Least Chipmunk and wildflowers through the smoky haze.

Cliff Swallows Gathering Nesting Materials

By |2021-06-23T05:31:13-05:00June 23rd, 2021|Categories: Birds, Cliff Swallows, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I photographed Cliff Swallows gathering nesting materials and fighting in bright morning light high in the Wasatch Mountains.

Nesting House Wren Photos

By |2024-02-26T11:02:10-06:00June 22nd, 2021|Categories: Birds, House Wrens, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Had it not been for my keen eyesight and a little bit of movement in a serviceberry shrub I would have missed out on taking nesting House Wren photos yesterday.

Baby Uinta Ground Squirrel Photos

By |2021-06-17T05:04:23-05:00June 17th, 2021|Categories: Summit County, Uinta Ground Squirrels, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last week I was able to take a nice long series of baby Uinta Ground Squirrel photos high in the Wasatch Mountains.

Violet-green Swallow Photos

By |2021-05-27T04:56:39-05:00May 27th, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

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.

Singing Rock Wren In The West Desert

By |2023-03-31T15:45:16-05:00May 20th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Rock Wrens, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

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.

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