My first of year bird for 2024 was a Common Raven I found yesterday morning on my way out to the auto tour loop of Bear River MBR.

Common Raven at Bear River MBR on New Year's Day 2024, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahCommon Raven at Bear River MBR on New Year’s Day 2024 – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 1250, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I was lucky that I even saw the first raven, it was simply that foggy yesterday morning.

When I travel to Bear River MBR I leave home when it is still pitch dark outside. It takes me about an hour to get to the I-15 exit I use to get to the refuge. Yesterday morning I knew it was foggy up north, I just didn’t know how foggy it would get before I got there.

I did know that I wouldn’t see my first bird of 2024 until after sunrise and that it would most likely happen near the refuge.

I had gotten off of I-15 and was on Forest Street, heading towards the Reeder Overflow bridge, when a Common Raven flew across the road in front of my Jeep in the thick fog. Because of the fog, I couldn’t photograph that raven safely and because I can’t photograph through my windshield.

I was excited to have a Common Raven be the first bird I saw in the New Year. Later in the morning, I was able to photograph the raven above from the north side of the auto tour loop. The fog wasn’t an issue on the auto tour route at all.

Bear River MBR cloaked in fog on New Year's Day 2024, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahBear River MBR cloaked in fog on New Year’s Day 2024 – Nikon D810, f8, 1/1000, ISO 400, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 90mm, natural light

The fog was still a problem when I drove back towards I-15 to head home. I stopped to take photos of the trees in the fog from Bird Refuge Road before the curve towards the east on Forest Road. I thought that the trees looked mystical covered in the frost in the fog.

Even though it wasn’t all that birdy yesterday at the refuge it was a nice way to start the New Year.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Common Raven photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my landscape photos of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge plus facts and information about the refuge.