Swans, Ducks and Geese

Tundra Swans Lifting Off from Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |February 27th, 2016|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Watching and photographing the Tundra Swans lifting off from Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge yesterday was slightly bittersweet for me because I know they will soon be heading north to mate.

Bathing Common Merganser at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |February 10th, 2016|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Common Mergansers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

There isn't much open water right now but in a few places where it is open it attracts waterfowl including this bathing Common Merganser male in breeding plumage.

Whirlpool of Feeding Northern Shovelers on the Great Salt Lake

By |February 2nd, 2016|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Northern Shovelers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It is interesting to see this whirlpool effect of Northern Shovelers on the surface of the Great Salt Lake and to hear the sounds of their bills dabbling in the water.

Canada Goose calling in the snow

By |December 14th, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Canada Geese, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I think I am as excited as this Canada Goose calling in the snow that I photographed in February of 2013 along the causeway to Antelope Island State Park.

Flock of Northern Shovelers feeding on the Great Salt Lake

By |November 10th, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Northern Shovelers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last December on the way off of Antelope Island I saw huge flocks of Northern Shovelers feeding on the Great Salt Lake and liked how they appeared through my viewfinder.

Drake Northern Pintail at Farmington Bay on a January Day

By |September 30th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Northern Pintails, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've been thinking about this upcoming winter wondering if we will get a normal amount of snow and of course about the birds I will see on cold mornings at Farmington Bay.

Trumpeter Swan Cygnets and Preening, Pin Feathers and Molt

By |September 18th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Trumpeter Swans|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In my last post on the Trumpeter Swan Cygnets On Elk Lake I mentioned that the cygnets spent a lot of time preening and part of the reason they do is they are molting.

Trumpeter Swan Cygnets On Elk Lake

By |September 12th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Birds, Montana, Trumpeter Swans|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I am totally enamored by Trumpeter Swans, they are not only graceful and beautiful but the adults seem like such caring parents and keep an ever watchful eye on their young.

It is Getting Duckier at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |August 18th, 2015|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Gadwalls, Redheads, Ruddy Ducks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Over the past couple of weeks I have noticed that Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is getting duckier. I am seeing more ducks in the water and flying over head now than I had in July.

An Assortment of Birds from Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge This Week

By |July 26th, 2015|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Mourning Doves, Northern Pintails, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday I posted a juvenile Wilson's Phalarope and today I am posting an assortment of others birds I photographed the same day at Bear River NWR.

The Great Salt Lake is D(r)ying and Utah’s Water Crisis

By |April 26th, 2015|Categories: American White Pelicans, Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-necked Stilts, Box Elder County, Brine Flies, Conservation, Davis County, Eared Grebes, Environment, Franklin's Gulls, Northern Shovelers, Utah, Wilson's Phalaropes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One thing I know for certain is that we can't drink dust.

Collared Tundra Swans – Banded Together and Staying Together

By |March 12th, 2015|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last week I posted some Tundra Swan images and mentioned that two of the swans I saw had markers on their necks, these are those swans flying together over the marsh.

Ruddy Duck Hen

By |February 7th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Ruddy Ducks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This series of Ruddy Duck images took just a little less than 8 seconds and then she tucked her bill back under her scapular and closed her eyes again.

Juvenile Northern Harrier at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and Tundra Swans calling

By |February 2nd, 2015|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Northern Harriers, Tundra Swans, Utah, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

On the way out of the refuge in an area I have heard called Curlew Flats I spotted this juvenile Northern Harrier on the ground and was able to take a few images of it before it lifted off with prey in its talons.

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