wetlands

Some Mammals I Loved In 2022

By |2022-12-28T07:17:09-06:00December 28th, 2022|Categories: American Badgers, Davis County, Elk, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Least Chipmunks, Long-tailed Weasels, Morgan County, Mule Deer, Summit County, Uinta Ground Squirrels, Uinta Mountains, Uinta National Forest, Utah, Wasatch Mountains, Yellow-bellied Marmots|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning I am sharing some photos of the mammals I loved finding, seeing, photographing and having in my viewfinder in 2022.

Christmas Day American Kestrel

By |2022-12-25T05:45:40-06:00December 25th, 2022|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Salt Lake County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I photographed this Christmas Day American Kestrel in 2020 at Farmington Bay WMA. That Christmas Day was bright and sunny, today isn't going to be at all.

First Winter Hooded Merganser

By |2022-12-19T05:52:16-06:00December 19th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Hooded Mergansers, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Two days ago at one of my local ponds I was able to take only a few photos of a Hooded Merganser before it disappeared from my line of sight.

Immature Rough-legged Hawk, Staring Prey And Feaking

By |2022-12-15T05:30:05-06:00December 15th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning I am sharing photos of an immature Rough-legged Hawk, its staring prey, of the bird feaking and a bonus image that shows the tongue of the hawk.

Birds On Ice In Northern Utah

By |2022-12-14T04:20:48-06:00December 14th, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Canada Geese, Common Ravens, Ring-billed Gulls, Salt Lake County, Trumpeter Swans, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning I'm sharing photos of five bird species that I find on ice during the coldest months of the year in marsh and urban locations.

Queenfisher – 2023 ABA Bird of the Year

By |2023-02-20T11:02:17-06:00December 11th, 2022|Categories: Belted Kingfishers, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Salt Lake County, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The 2023 ABA Bird of the Year was revealed yesterday evening. The bird of the year is the Queenfisher, also known as the female Belted Kingfisher.

Immature Red-tailed Hawk In A Safety Zone

By |2023-12-25T04:00:32-06:00December 4th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

About two years ago, I photographed this immature Red-tailed Hawk resting above a safety zone sign at Farmington Bay WMA on a cold morning.

Bright Winter Light VS A Winter Whiteout

By |2022-12-04T04:41:24-06:00December 3rd, 2022|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Earlier this year I photographed a Tundra Swan in bright winter light that today I am comparing to another swan image I took in winter whiteout conditions.

White-faced Ibis Foraging In A Wetland

By |2022-11-29T06:19:58-06:00November 29th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, White-faced Ibises|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Although much of the water there had iced over, I was tickled to find this White-faced Ibis foraging in the wetlands of Farmington Bay WMA last week.

Immature Northern Shrike Jackpot!

By |2022-11-26T06:05:08-06:00November 26th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Northern Shrikes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I felt like I had hit a jackpot yesterday when I found an immature Northern Shrike perched on a Common Mullein at Farmington Bay WMA.

Ring-billed Gull Feeding Frenzy Excitement

By |2022-11-16T03:16:36-06:00November 16th, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Ring-billed Gulls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I was at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge two days ago I witnessed several Ring-billed Gull feeding frenzies out on the marshes of the refuge.

My First Of Season Common Goldeneye

By |2023-10-01T03:02:00-05:00November 12th, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Common Goldeneyes, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I found my first of season Common Goldeneye near a stand of rushes while walking around a local pond after a light skiff of snow had fallen overnight.

Winter California And Herring Gull Comparison In Utah

By |2023-03-27T03:47:22-05:00November 8th, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, California Gulls, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Herring Gulls, Pinellas County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Since I frequently get asked which is which I thought this would be a good time to do a winter California and Herring Gull comparison and ID feature post.

Fall Views At Bear River MBR

By |2022-11-06T05:56:11-06:00November 6th, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Scenics, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yes, I go to Bear River MBR to find and photograph birds, but I also go there to unwind and find comfort in the marsh and the magnificent surroundings.

Marsh Wren At Bear River MBR

By |2022-11-05T05:39:16-05:00November 5th, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Marsh Wrens, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning I am sharing this photo of a tiny Marsh Wren hanging upside down in the marsh at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge simply because I like it.

American Coot Reflection

By |2022-11-03T04:21:03-05:00November 3rd, 2022|Categories: American Coots, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This American Coot caught my eye on my latest trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge three days ago in part because of the still water and the reflection of the bird.

Immature Clark’s Grebe And A Mystery

By |2022-11-02T10:07:09-05:00November 2nd, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Clark's Grebes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I came across an immature Clark's Grebe on Monday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I took photos of the grebe because I could see something on its fluffy neck.

Surprise Swamp Sparrow At Bear River MBR

By |2022-11-02T03:14:23-05:00November 1st, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Swamp Sparrows, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge yesterday morning, I was surprised to find a Swamp Sparrow near the far southern corner of the auto tour loop.

Song Sparrow Singing On An October Morning

By |2023-11-15T05:18:09-06:00October 29th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Song Sparrows, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning I'm sharing a simple singing Song Sparrow photographed on a late October morning. Or is it truly all that simple? 

Rough-legged Hawk Season Has Begun

By |2022-10-25T05:10:41-05:00October 25th, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Rough-legged Hawk season has begun in northern Utah. I spotted my first of season Rough-legged Hawks on the wing last Friday.

Greater Yellowlegs Trio In Early Morning Light

By |2022-10-19T03:26:17-05:00October 19th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Greater Yellowlegs, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I was at Farmington Bay WMA two days ago I saw a small flock of Greater Yellowlegs foraging, preening and resting in the wetlands in early morning light.

Band-winged and Striped Meadowhawk Dragonfly Photos

By |2022-10-18T04:38:35-05:00October 18th, 2022|Categories: Band-winged Meadowhawks, Davis County, Dragonflies, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Striped Meadowhawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

At Farmington Bay WMA yesterday I saw and photographed two kinds of meadowhawk dragonflies including this Band-winged Meadowhawk resting on a boulder.

Striped Meadowhawk Dragonfly – Maybe?

By |2022-10-07T04:39:38-05:00October 7th, 2022|Categories: Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Striped Meadowhawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Two days ago, I was searching for birds at Farmington Bay WMA when I noticed a dragonfly landing nearby and took a couple pictures of it.

Fall Immature White-faced Ibis

By |2022-10-06T03:32:32-05:00October 6th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, White-faced Ibises|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I didn't anticipate seeing many birds when I arrived in Farmington Bay early yesterday morning. I was tickled to photograph this immature White-faced Ibis.

Red-winged Blackbird In Warm Morning Light

By |2022-10-02T03:18:07-05:00October 2nd, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Red-winged Blackbirds, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

At Bear River MBR two days ago, I paused to take pictures of this Red-winged Blackbird in the warm morning light despite the mosquitoes trying to bite my neck.

Go to Top