Adult and juvenile white morph Snow Geese walking on the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, UtahAdult and juvenile white morph Snow Geese – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/200, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

While looking for the female Harlequin Duck that has been hanging around the Antelope Island Causeway two days ago I spotted two Snow Geese near the shoreline but I didn’t see them soon enough to get images of them because they were in flight by the time I noticed them. The good news is that they stayed in the area and I spotted them again yesterday morning just as the sun was rising.

The sun hadn’t lit up the north side of the raised causeway when I took the image above but I loved the pastel blue water of the Great Salt Lake and that the geese were side by side.

Juvenile Snow Goose on the shore of the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Utah Juvenile Snow Goose – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

It wasn’t long before the sunlight reached the shoreline and the geese, it is amazing to see how much difference the quality of light can make in images. This juvenile white morph Snow Goose stayed close to the adult. It doesn’t look so “snowy” now but it will. I like the pied appearance of the immature birds.

Adult Snow Goose walking along the causeway to Antelope Island State Park, UtahAdult Snow Goose – Nikon D300, f8, 1/800, ISO 800, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

The adult Snow Goose has beautiful white plumage with black primaries, pink legs and feet with black toenails, black eyes and a pink bill with a black “grin patch”.

Snow Goose adult (r) and juvenile (l), Antelope Island State Park, UtahSnow Goose adult (r) and juvenile (l) – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 800, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 242mm, natural light

I was tickled to get these images and the others I created of these two Snow Geese yesterday, especially since they were close. The only other times I have seen them near the causeway they were in flight and too far away to get decent photographs. Maybe they will stick around longer and I’ll be able to take more photos of them!

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Snow Goose photos plus facts and information about this species.