Orioles, Meadowlarks and Blackbirds

Male Brewer’s Blackbird Bathing and Splashing Water

By |October 13th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Brewer's Blackbirds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Brewer's Blackbird seemed to be really throwing himself into his bath as he splashed around, dipping his head into the water then shaking his entire body as his head rose above the water.

My Rare Baltimore Oriole Sighting In Northern Utah

By |August 24th, 2018|Categories: Baltimore Orioles, Birds, Little Dutch Hollow, Morgan County, Rarities, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

I didn't go up into the Wasatch Mountains yesterday thinking I would find a rare bird but that is precisely what happened after I spotted a beautiful male Baltimore Oriole fly into a serviceberry bush in Morgan County.

Birds & More Birds in The Wasatch Mountains

By |August 10th, 2018|Categories: American Robins, Birds, Bullock's Orioles, Cedar Waxwings, Gray Catbirds, Lark Sparrows, Lazuli Buntings, Morgan County, Song Sparrows, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains, Yellow Warblers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In the past week I have photographed so many birds in a Wasatch Mountain canyon that I thought I would share a group of them in a photo gallery.

Male Great-tailed Grackle in Low Light Plus Battery Issues

By |May 24th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Great-tailed Grackles, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Even though the light yesterday morning wasn't optimal for bird photography I took my Mom to the Farmington Bay WMA area to show her around there, we only made it as far as Glover Pond though.

Springtime Yellow-headed Blackbird Male

By |March 29th, 2018|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yellow-head Blackbirds made their presence known at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge two days ago by displaying and because of their odd mechanical calls that sound like a rusty metal gate opening and closing.

Some of the Birds That People Love to Hate

By |March 11th, 2018|Categories: American Crows, Birds, Black-billed Magpies, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Common Ravens, Double-crested Cormorants, European Starlings, Fish Crows, Florida, House Sparrows, Laughing Gulls, Mallards|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Okay, that is enough for now, there are more birds that people love to hate but I can only deal with so much of it before I feel the need to get out and photograph all the birds I see, even those that other people despise.

Spread-eagle Red-winged Blackbird at Fort De Soto County Park

By |February 23rd, 2018|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Red-winged Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

In Florida I most often photographed Red-winged Blackbirds at north beach of Fort De Soto County Park where I could reliably find them in the sand dunes, sea oats, spartina and mangroves all year long.

Female Brewer’s Blackbird With Light Colored Eyes?

By |November 12th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Brewer's Blackbirds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Within the flock of blackbirds there was a female Brewer's Blackbird that drew my attention to her because she had light colored eyes and stood out from the other females that were nearby.

Autumn Brewer’s Blackbirds

By |October 23rd, 2017|Categories: Birds, Brewer's Blackbirds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I always have fun photographing Brewer's Blackbirds even though they are a challenge to expose properly, it is precisely that challenge that keeps me on my toes.

Juvenile Red-winged Blackbird Male Diving Towards The Ground

By |October 19th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Red-winged Blackbirds, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

The plumage of male juvenile Red-winged Blackbirds is highly variable during their first year, some of the young blackbirds can look like females and some can look more like adult males.

Adult Western Meadowlark on Blooming Rabbitbrush

By |September 20th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Utah, Western Meadowlarks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

This Western Meadowlark perched on a blooming Rabbitbrush the first September after I had moved to Utah and I was thrilled to take this photograph on Antelope Island State Park.

Female Red-winged Blackbirds – Frequency in Misidentification

By |June 14th, 2017|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Red-winged Blackbirds, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Female Red-winged Blackbirds seem to be the birds that are most often misidentified probably because they look so different from the males. Red-winged Blackbirds are sexually dimorphic .

Male Yellow-headed Blackbird Portraits

By |May 29th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was surprised yesterday to be able to take portraits of male Yellow-headed Blackbirds because they normally fly away from me instead of flying towards me.

Mixture of Spring Birds at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |April 13th, 2017|Categories: American Pipits, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Clark's Grebes, House Sparrows, Marsh Wrens, Red-winged Blackbirds, Savannah Sparrows, Utah, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was so happy to photograph this mixture of spring birds at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge that I had a hard time picking out which birds and which photos to share.

Female and Male Western Meadowlarks – A Glimpse into Their Mating Behaviors

By |April 8th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Utah, Western Meadowlarks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Three days ago while out on Antelope Island State Park under cloudy skies I was able to observe a glimpse into the mating behaviors of a pair of Western Meadowlarks.

Western Meadowlarks Are Very Active Right Now – They Know Spring Has Arrived

By |March 15th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Utah, Western Meadowlarks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Western Meadowlarks are very active right now on the island, searching for insects, scurrying through the grasses and singing their hearts out from their favorite perches.

Male Brewer’s Blackbird on an Autumn Day

By |October 23rd, 2016|Categories: Birds, Brewer's Blackbirds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Brewer's Blackbirds are year round residents in northern Utah and in the autumn they form large flocks that move through open field looking for seeds and fallen grain.

Male Yellow-headed Blackbird Displaying at Bear River MBR

By |September 15th, 2016|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I photographed this male Yellow-headed Blackbird displaying at Bear River MBR it was a beautiful May morning and all the birds there were singing.

Western Meadowlark in Snow – Stretching, Preening and Resting

By |December 19th, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Utah, Western Meadowlarks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had a great time photographing a Western Meadowlark in snow yesterday on Antelope Island State Park near the White Rock Bay campgrounds.

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