Rails, Coots, Cranes and Limpkins

Families: Rallidae, Aramidae, Gruidae

These families include 14 species found in North America. All of them inhabit marsh wetlands where they consume vegetation and small animals but the feeding habits vary greatly. Cranes are often seen due in part to their size but Limpkins are secretive and solitary, rails and soras are skulkers and secretive where coots and gallinules are often found in the open.

My First Of Year Sandhill Crane

By |2024-02-25T04:02:29-07:00February 25th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I was at Farmington Bay WMA two days ago, I heard and saw my first Sandhill Crane of the year. The calling crane was in flight, way off in the distance.

Urban American Coot Close Up Photos

By |2024-02-11T05:30:13-07:00February 11th, 2024|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Because it was a bright, sunny day yesterday morning, I went down to my local ponds. I photographed an American Coot munching on frosty grass near one of them.

I’m Still Looking For This Leucistic American Coot

By |2024-01-26T13:36:50-07:00January 26th, 2024|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Rarities, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I remember feeling very thrilled when I found this leucistic American Coot on January 2, 2023. I'd been hoping to find a leucistic coot for quite a long time.

Three American Coots Side By Side

By |2023-10-28T04:30:32-06:00October 28th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

What's better than having one coot in my viewfinder? I'd say having three American Coots side by side in my viewfinder at one time!

American Coots Fighting – Pond Pugilists

By |2023-04-30T06:25:56-06:00April 30th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I was at my local pond three days ago, I took my best-to-date images of fighting American Coots. I had a blast and laughed a lot while I took them.

Leucistic American Coot Photos

By |2023-08-07T03:23:19-06:00April 13th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Great-tailed Grackles, Leucistic, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Over the past four months I wanted closer, better photos of the leucistic American Coot that I found on January 2nd. My patience and persistence paid off.

Communing With Sandhill Cranes

By |2023-03-13T05:47:19-06:00March 13th, 2023|Categories: Bicknell Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've been thinking a lot about Sandhill Cranes recently so I am going back in time to nine years ago today when I photographed them in Wayne County, Utah.

Migrating Sandhill Cranes On The Wing

By |2023-02-25T15:39:53-07:00February 25th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I heard through the grapevine that Sandhill Cranes have returned to Farmington Bay WMA. Since the cranes are there they might be at other Utah locations too.

Gadwall Drake Resting In Snow

By |2023-03-12T04:18:55-06:00January 4th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Leucistic, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning I'm sharing photos of a Gadwall drake resting in snow plus a bonus photo of the leucistic American Coot taken yesterday in afternoon light.

December Snow Storm Plus An American Coot

By |2022-12-13T04:28:23-07:00December 13th, 2022|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Valley, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday, after I cleared the snow off of my Jeep for the first time, I drove down to my neighborhood pond in a December snow storm to enjoy the snow.

American Coot Reflection

By |2022-11-03T04:21:03-06:00November 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.

Wasatch Mountain Range Sandhill Crane Images

By |2022-08-01T05:05:20-06:00August 1st, 2022|Categories: Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I spent ten minutes taking Sandhill Crane images high in the Wasatch Mountain Range after finding a pair of cranes next to an alpine creek.

Solitary Sandhill Crane Foraging In A Pasture

By |2022-07-14T04:21:39-06:00July 14th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I took this adult Sandhill Crane photo earlier this week as the crane foraged for food in a grassy horse pasture high up in the Wasatch Mountains.

February Tundra Swan Photos Plus Some Very Early Sandhill Cranes

By |2023-02-25T04:22:20-07:00February 11th, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Sandhill Cranes, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Late last month I mentioned that I hadn't yet gotten the Tundra Swan photos that I wanted to take. Yesterday at Bear River MBR I was delighted to remedy that situation.

American Coot Entering The Icy Bear River

By |2022-02-06T05:18:12-07:00February 6th, 2022|Categories: American Coots, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

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.

Focusing On American Coot Photos At Farmington Bay

By |2022-01-11T04:54:43-07:00January 11th, 2022|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I spent part of my time focusing on taking American Coot photos in the marshes and wetlands of Farmington Bay WMA. I adore these goofy birds.

Christmas Day Birds 2021

By |2021-12-26T05:18:25-07:00December 26th, 2021|Categories: American Coots, Birds, California Gulls, Common Goldeneyes, Great Blue Herons, Great-tailed Grackles, Mallards, Rough-legged Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I did get out to find and photograph birds on Christmas Day at Farmington Bay WMA and then later in the morning I found more closer to home.

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