Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and Beyond
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is a winter wonderland right now and although it is very quiet it is still teeming with life.
Frost Covered Juvenile Northern Harrier at Farmington Bay
It isn't unusual to see birds like this frost covered juvenile Northern Harrier at Farmington Bay WMA, Utah early in the morning before the sun rises and warms them up.
Sunrise, a Bald Eagle and Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
I photographed this adult Bald Eagle at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge early on New Year's Day when the light of dawn was still golden.
Turkey Vulture in Box Elder County – Nature’s Picker Uppers
When I photographed this Turkey Vulture in Box Elder County last summer it flew from the post it had been perched on and landed a bit further away where it quickly began cleaning its bill
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk At Blue Creek Spring
Through the steamy mists of a hot spring I found a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk at Blue Creek Spring in Box Elder County and I hoped to get a few decent images of it.
Kiting Rough-legged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawks are known for kiting or hovering nearly motionless in the air while turning their head side to side to look for prey on the ground below them.
Bald Eagle in flight with prey in its talons
When the Bald Eagle lifted off I could see the prey in its talons but it wasn't until I viewed the image on my screen at home that I could tell that the prey was most likely an Eared Grebe because of the lobed feet.
Juvenile Northern Harrier in flight over Farmington Bay
I was able to take a few frames of this juvenile Northern Harrier in flight as it flew over some open water.
Rough-legged Hawk perched on a stump
The first great opportunity I had with them this year was this male Rough-legged Hawk perched on a stump at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge in Box Elder County.
Juvenile Northern Harrier perched on a post
I photographed this juvenile Northern Harrier as it perched on a post near Goose Egg Island at Farmington Bay.
Red-tailed Hawks Do Perch on Wires
There are always exceptions. So yes, Red-tailed Hawks do sit on wires and that is one rule of birding to discount.
Male Rough-legged Hawk in the marsh next to the Bear River
One good bird can "make" a trip and yesterday a male Rough-legged Hawk made my trip to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge worthwhile.
Perched Red-shouldered Hawk adult at Myakka River State Park
Back in early 2009 I was wandering with some friends in a hammock at Myakka River State Park, Florida when we came across this Red-shouldered Hawk.
A Few Birds From Yesterday At Farmington Bay
The light was beautiful yesterday morning at Farmington Bay WMA and I was able to photograph a few species if birds including this juvenile Northern Harrier flying over the marsh.
An Osprey and a Whiting over Fort De Soto
This Osprey image was taken in April of 2009 at Fort De Soto's north beach. I had been photographing smaller birds that were close to me when I noticed the Osprey flying in with a whiting.
Bald Eagle landing on ice in a fog at Farmington Bay WMA
During the winter Farmington Bay has a large population of overwintering Bald Eagles that migrate down from northern states and Canada.
Gutsy Brewer’s Blackbird at a Red-tailed Hawk Nest
This past summer I found a Red-tailed Hawk nest right next to a road in Montana that had three chicks in it that I felt I could photograph without stressing the hawks.
Hovering Harrier – Head Down and Eyes on the Ground
I photographed this hovering Northern Harrier several years ago at Farmington Bay Water Fowl Management Area as it scanned the ground below for prey.
Keeping an eye on the sky for Rough-legged Hawks
It is early October but I am already starting to get excited about seeing my first of the season Rough-legged Hawks.
Juvenile Swainson’s Hawk stretching its wings
I had wanted to post this photo of a juvenile Swainson's Hawk last week from Montana but because my cell signal was so cruddy I didn't get this image uploaded.
Swainson’s Hawk Juvenile Jumping To A New Perch
I photographed a Swainson's Hawk family for several mornings while I was in Montana and this is one of the juveniles I focused on.
A Swainson’s Hawk missed prey hand off
I sat with some juvenile Swainson's Hawks yesterday morning for quite some time and it eventually paid off when an adult came in to hand off prey but the young hawk missed.
Centennial Valley Swainson’s Hawk
I am enjoying my time in the Centennial Valley especially when I can spend time photographing raptors like this adult light morph Swainson's Hawk.
International Vulture Awareness Day
Sure, vultures aren't are handsome as Bald Eagles but they do serve an ecological function of cleaning up carrion so in essence they are nature's recyclers.
Rough-legged Hawk and thoughts about the upcoming winter
I came across this image of a male Rough-legged Hawk taken this past February and it caused me to wonder what this upcoming winter will be like.
Red-tailed Hawks Near The Promontory Mountains
Yesterday I spent the morning in Box Elder County driving along the Promontory Mountain Range and Red-tailed Hawks were the most numerous raptors I saw.
Juvenile Swainson’s Hawk on a bale of hay
I created this juvenile Swainson's Hawk image two days ago before the sun rose over the mountains and I liked how it turned out despite the low light.
West Desert Wanderings – Thrashers and Hawks
I went wandering in the West Desert of Utah yesterday because the views are always great and because I hoped to find a few birds.
Bald Eagle On Ice
I photographed this adult Bald Eagle as it perched on ice covering the Great Salt Lake in early morning light in January 2012.
Pair of Swainson’s Hawks in Beaverhead County, Montana
I am itching to get back out in the field with Swainson's Hawks partly because they are handsome raptors and partly because by now there might be some young that have fledged.