{"id":125253,"date":"2024-03-21T04:07:30","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T10:07:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=125253"},"modified":"2025-05-08T05:56:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T10:56:57","slug":"american-coot-on-the-last-day-of-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/03\/21\/american-coot-on-the-last-day-of-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"American Coot On The Last Day Of Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the birds I photographed on the last day of winter at Bear River MBR<\/span><\/a> was an American Coot. I happen to like seeing their big, funky-looking feet.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult American Coot on the last day of winter \u2013 Nikon D500, f9, 1\/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

While driving the last leg of the auto tour loop, I came upon this coot while it was preening. The light was good, the coot was cooperative, and I liked the reflection of the bird on the water.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican Coot adult on a mound in the marsh \u2013 Nikon D500, f9, 1\/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The coot’s large, lobed feet drew my eyes right to them. The red eye, ivory colored bill, and dark feathers stood out from the tans and browns of the marsh vegetation.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican Coot adult about to enter the water \u2013 Nikon D500, f9, 1\/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Very soon, those tans and browns will be replaced with the greens of new spring growth. By then, the coots will be nesting.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult American Coot entering the water \u2013 Nikon D500, f9, 1\/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I enjoyed the few moments I had with this coot before they slid into the water and swam away to join a few other nearby coots.<\/p>\n

Spending the last day of winter at the refuge was wonderful, relaxing, and peaceful.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to view more of my American Coot photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the birds I photographed on the last day of winter at Bear River MBR was an American Coot. I happen to like seeing their big, funky-looking feet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":143384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[137,124,27,1148,26],"tags":[4004,4010,14825,11895,4121,4094,13812,4059,6428,3996,4095,373],"class_list":["post-125253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-coots","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-american-coot","tag-enter","tag-entering","tag-fulica-americana","tag-marsh","tag-mound","tag-phragmites","tag-phrags","tag-water","tag-wetlands","tag-winter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t