Bright-eyed ChukarBright-eyed Chukar – Nikon D810, f11, 1/800, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This past Sunday was a beautiful day to be on Antelope Island State Park the sky was clear and the sun felt warm. I found a cooperative Chukar on the rocks not too far from the one I photographed recently on a lichen covered tintic quartzite boulder and took some images of it before it hopped down off of the rock to take chase after a few nearby Chukars. The blue at the top of the image is the Great Salt Lake below the slope and the tan color is mudflats. The water level of the lake is very low and getting lower.

The Chukars are singing from the rocks in the morning and if I am lucky I might be able to photograph them fighting over the hens again like I did three years ago.

I remember how tickled I was to photograph Chukars the first time I visited Antelope Island, I certainly didn’t see them in Florida! After living here in Utah for over 5 years I have a large collection of images that I have taken of these striking upland game birds.

Life is good.

Mia