{"id":99702,"date":"2022-02-06T05:18:12","date_gmt":"2022-02-06T12:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=99702"},"modified":"2022-02-06T05:18:12","modified_gmt":"2022-02-06T12:18:12","slug":"american-coot-entering-the-icy-bear-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/02\/06\/american-coot-entering-the-icy-bear-river\/","title":{"rendered":"American Coot Entering The Icy Bear River"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AmericanAmerican Coot at the edge of an ice shelf \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

When I was up at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge<\/span><\/a> late last week I photographed an American Coot entering the icy Bear River from the auto tour loop.<\/p>\n

When I saw the American Coot walking towards the edge of the ice shelf I knew that the dark, chicken-like bird with the big green funky looking feet and ivory colored bill might make a splash as it entered the water.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican Coot about to enter the Bear River \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

As I focused on the coot when it reached the edge of the ice shelf I noticed how it bent its body forward. I knew that it was heading into the river as soon as it pushed off of the ice with its feet.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican Coot splashing into the Bear River \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

When the coot launched its body from the ice into the water it caused a bow wave with splashing water droplets to form in front of its breast and neck.<\/p>\n

I was happy that I focused on this American Coot and that I was able to take this last photo of the coot enter the icy river.<\/p>\n

I know that some people don’t think that American Coots are all that interesting. That isn’t me. It will never be me.<\/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":"

When I was up at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge late last week I photographed an American Coot entering the icy Bear River from the auto tour loop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[137,124,27,1148,26],"tags":[4004,4010,4529,2772,2773,12731,4121,4064,8485,4094,5558,2688,3996,4095,373],"class_list":["post-99702","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-bear-river","tag-coot","tag-coots","tag-ebter","tag-fulica-americana","tag-ice","tag-ice-shelf","tag-marsh","tag-river","tag-splashing","tag-water","tag-wetlands","tag-winter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/american-coot-on-ice-mia-mcpherson-5507.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-pW6","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":125253,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/03\/21\/american-coot-on-the-last-day-of-winter\/","url_meta":{"origin":99702,"position":0},"title":"American Coot On The Last Day Of Winter","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 21, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the birds I photographed on the last day of winter at Bear River MBR was an American Coot. 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I'd say having three American Coots side by side in my viewfinder at one time!","rel":"","context":"In "American Coots"","block_context":{"text":"American Coots","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/gruiformes\/american-coots\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Three American Coots in autumn, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/american-coot-trio-marsh-mia-mcpherson-5457.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/american-coot-trio-marsh-mia-mcpherson-5457.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/american-coot-trio-marsh-mia-mcpherson-5457.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/american-coot-trio-marsh-mia-mcpherson-5457.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48484,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/09\/17\/i-stop-for-coots-any-time-i-see-them\/","url_meta":{"origin":99702,"position":4},"title":"I Stop For Coots Any Time I See Them","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I've written before that I love American Coots and I guess that will never change, I will stop for coots any time I see them, I will photograph them and enjoy their antics.","rel":"","context":"In "American Coots"","block_context":{"text":"American Coots","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/gruiformes\/american-coots\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Coot portrait in front of icy blue water, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/american-coot-adult-portrait-mia-mcpherson-3153.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/american-coot-adult-portrait-mia-mcpherson-3153.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/american-coot-adult-portrait-mia-mcpherson-3153.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/american-coot-adult-portrait-mia-mcpherson-3153.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":126291,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/03\/28\/drake-northern-shoveler-and-american-coot\/","url_meta":{"origin":99702,"position":5},"title":"Drake Northern Shoveler And American Coot","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 28, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"This drake Northern Shoveler swam past me on my last trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. 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