Farewell to 2015 – Owl See You in 2016
I don't know how many hours I have spent in the field photographing birds and wildlife this year but I know that every moment has been special and I treasure that.
Kiting Rough-legged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawks are known for kiting or hovering nearly motionless in the air while turning their head side to side to look for prey on the ground below them.
Juvenile Northern Harrier In Flight Over Farmington Bay
I was able to take a few frames of this juvenile Northern Harrier in flight as it flew over some open water.
Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron On Ice
On a January morning in 2013 I photographed this juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron on ice for about a half an hour at Farmington Bay.
Portrait of a Fledgling Great Horned Owl
When I can be close enough to see into the eyes of a fledgling Great Horned Owl and take a portrait of it I feel honored and enchanted.
Immature White-crowned Sparrow Close Up
Getting close up images of wild birds is always a thrill for me and having this immature White-crowned Sparrow come in close enough for portrait was a pleasure on the last day of November.
Wild Rose Hips And An Immature White-crowned Sparrow
I was happy yesterday to take this image of an immature White-crowned Sparrow perched with wild rose hips in the frame too.
Young Peregrine Falcon and the Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake this time of the year is full of ducks and that means that there is ample food in the area for this young Peregrine Falcon.
Red-tailed Hawks Do Perch On Wires
There are always exceptions. So yes, Red-tailed Hawks do sit on wires and that is one rule of birding to discount.
Peregrine Falcon on a Tumbleweed Perch
I was delighted to have a minute or two with this immature Peregrine Falcon on a tumbleweed perch in northern Utah. It made my day.
Trumpeter Swan Cygnets and Preening, Pin Feathers and Molt
In my last post on the Trumpeter Swan Cygnets On Elk Lake I mentioned that the cygnets spent a lot of time preening and part of the reason they do is they are molting.
Swainson’s Hawk Juvenile Jumping To A New Perch
I photographed a Swainson's Hawk family for several mornings while I was in Montana and this is one of the juveniles I focused on.
Trumpeter Swan Cygnets On Elk Lake
I am totally enamored by Trumpeter Swans, they are not only graceful and beautiful but the adults seem like such caring parents and keep an ever watchful eye on their young.
An Immature Sage Thrasher On A September Morning
The Sage Thrashers on Antelope Island State Park are busy getting ready for migration and the thrashers hatched this year appear to be almost ready to go.
Great Horned Owl Chick On Honeymoon Island State Park
I spent about three months in 2008 watching a Great Horned Owl nest on Honeymoon Island State Park in Florida from hatching until this young owl fledged.
Western Grebes And Their Young At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
There were plenty of Western Grebes to be seen and photographed yesterday morning at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge and I took tons of images of them.
Juvenile Royal Tern Head On And An Optical Illusion
Every time I look at this tern image I laugh because my mind sees a tiny starfish stuck on the birds face that is actually its bill.
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird perched on Moth Mullein
I wanted to post an image of a juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird today because despite their bad reputations as brood parasites they are native birds that I think are worth pointing my lens at.
Bear River and a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron
In my post yesterday I mentioned that the Snowy Egrets that I photographed at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge were avoiding a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron, this is that heron.
Juvenile Swainson’s Hawk on a bale of hay
I created this juvenile Swainson's Hawk image two days ago before the sun rose over the mountains and I liked how it turned out despite the low light.
Black-necked Stilt And My Concerns About The Future Of The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
If the Bear River is dammed upstream I have to wonder if we will see history repeating itself but made even worse by climate change, reduced snow pack and rising temperatures and how that will impact the refuge.
Sandhill Crane And Its Nearly Full-sized Colt
The Sandhill Crane colts at Farmington Bay are as tall as their parents and look just like them except for the markings on their head and the color of their bills and eyes.
The American Bison Calves Are Not So Little Or Red Now
Newly born American Bison calves are called "Reds" or Little Reds" after they are born in the spring and compared to the darker adults they appear very red.
Portrait Of A Wet Juvenile Loggerhead Shrike
After a rainy summer day there were puddles on the dirt roads of Antelope Island State Park and this juvenile Loggerhead Shrike took advantage of a puddle and bathed.
Young Burrowing Owls In And Near Their Burrows
The young Burrowing Owls I have been following and photographing are growing up but many of them still stay close to the burrows they hatched in.
Young Wilson’s Phalaropes at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
I am seeing more and more Wilson's Phalaropes at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and the majority of the birds I see are hatch year birds.
Western Kingbirds – Juveniles Begging To Be Fed
So even though I didn't come home with many Burrowing Owls images yesterday these Western Kingbird images more than made up for it!
Juvenile Lark Sparrow on Antelope Island
I don't often have the opportunity to photograph young Lark Sparrows so I jumped at the chance last Saturday when I saw this one on Antelope Island State Park.
It Is Tough Being A Bird Photographer When It Comes To Burrowing Owls
You might wonder why I think it is tough being a bird photographer when it comes to Burrowing Owls.
Juvenile Wilson’s Phalarope
Bear River National Wildlife Refuge was lovely yesterday morning and one of the nice surprises I found was this juvenile Wilson's Phalarope on the west side of the auto tour route.