Birds that I find in the field, photograph and share the stories behind the images.
An Anhinga’s Bad Hair Day
If I were an Anhinga and stretching it even further if I were a male Anhinga this is what I would look like today.
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow on a December day
A little brown bird (LBB) popped into my view today that I couldn't resist photographing and it was this juvenile White-crowned Sparrow.
Great Blue Heron stalking prey in morning light
As common as Great Blue Herons are throughout North America I am always happy to photograph these prehistoric looking birds.
One serious looking Coot
Yes, I am being slightly anthropomorphic but this is one serious looking Coot.
American Barn Owl on the Wing
Barn Owls are gorgeous with their dark as ebony eyes, beautiful plumage and graceful flight so I find it difficult to suppress my delight when I see them on the wing.
Sometimes I Wonder About the Birds I Photograph
In February of 2011 there was a first year Bald Eagle at Farmington Bay WMA that seemed totally unafraid and unconcerned about the people near it.
Happy Thanksgiving
This year has been zipping by so quickly and it is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is already here and I really have so much to be grateful for.
Golden Reflections and a Pied-billed Grebe
The golden reflections with just a hint of blue compliment the golden tones of the plumage of the Pied-billed Grebe.
Birds on Wires – European Starling
I know a lot of people don't like European Starlings because they are in introduced species that cause lots of problems for native birds.
Winter Wanderers – Rough-legged Hawks
I have started seeing Rough-legged Hawks again in northern Utah and that has me excited. I have seen them in Utah County and Davis County but I haven't gotten any quality photos of them yet
Red-tailed Hawk juvenile in flight in low light
I could not resist photographing the young Red-tailed Hawk though as it lifted off and flew in front of me after prey even though conditions were not ideal.
How House Finches moved East
House Finches are fairly common birds throughout the U.S. Mexico and into Central America but they didn't used to be common in the eastern U.S.
Greater Scaup drake at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
This Greater Scaup drake is making the transition into his breeding plumage an was in among American Coots, a resting female scaup, Pied-Billed Grebes and a single Canvasback.
Winter American Robin – Turdus migratorius
Personally, I love to see American Robins any time of the year and to watch them searching for prey. Common? Yes, but delightful too.
Great Blue Heron hunkered down against winter’s brutal cold
Last December I photographed this Great Blue Heron as it hunkered down against the brutal cold at the edge of the water in a marsh.
An American Coot munching on food
American Coots are common birds and some folks might find them fairly plain but I like them and enjoy photographing them too.
Ring-billed Gull Age Progression
In February of 2011 I wrote about the age progression of Bald Eagles along with images to illustrate the ages, today I am doing the same but with Ring-billed Gulls.
Time to look for Northern Shrikes
I write about the raptors I expect to see during the winter in Utah but there are also song birds I keep an eye out for too like this immature Northern Shrike.
Juvenile Northern Harrier in flight
Northern Harriers are year round residents in Utah and I am encouraged by the numbers of them I have seen lately at Farmington Bay WMA.
Veterans Day 2014
Words will never fully be enough when I think about the sacrifices our Veterans have made for our country.
Wildlife in a blizzard two years ago today
Today there are great big clouds with small patches of blue sky but two years ago it was very different, we were having a blizzard.
White-crowned Sparrow Juvenile on a wild rose
It was nice to get out yesterday morning and photograph a few birds including this juvenile White-crowned Sparrow perched on a wild rose.
Marbled Godwit and the Gulf of Mexico
I have always thought of Marbled Godwits as graceful, elegant shorebirds and I still do.
Snow Birds – Dark-eyed Juncos
When I lived in Virginia I could almost predict when the first snow would fall because the juncos showed at my feeders up a day or two before the first winter storm.
Downy Woodpecker In The Willows At Farmington Bay
I was delighted to spot this male Downy Woodpecker in the willows the last time I went out to Farmington Bay Bird Refuge.
Pair of Greater Yellowlegs in flight
Shorebirds are still migrating through the Salt Lake Valley and Farmington Bay WMA and there have been quite a few Greater Yellowlegs in the area.
We need a refuge even though we may never need to go there…
Wilderness brings me peace, hope and the desire to immerse myself into it as much as I possibly can.
Prairie Merlin
I saw a fleeting glimpse of a bird a few days ago that I suspect was a Merlin that migrated to winter here in Utah and it inspired me to post a few Merlin images today.
Preening Brewer’s Blackbird
I have been seeing plenty of blackbirds lately at Farmington Bay WMA and a few days ago I photographed this preening Brewer's Blackbird on a fence post.
Red-tailed Hawk lifting off
Lately it has been wonderful to see and photograph more birds including raptors. I think the long dry spell that started the end of July might be over finally.