Birds that I find in the field, photograph and share the stories behind the images.
Friday Photos – Long-billed Curlews
The juvenile Long-billed Curlew was foraging and preening in the vegetation on the ground below the adult perched on the boulder
Short-eared Owls – An interesting surprise
Soon after that I saw the shape of a larger bird near where the Coyote had gone into the sagebrush which turned out to be an adult Short-eared Owl.
Cliff Swallow Juveniles
Cliff Swallows catch and eat flying insects of many species the wing so I adore them because they eat mosquitoes, an insect that I personally despise!
Friday Photos – Short-eared Owl
The grasses are beginning to turn golden with the summer heat, the Moth Mulleins are starting to bloom and the Great Salt Lake level is still rising from spring run off.
Friday Photos: Greater Yellowlegs
When looking at a Greater Yellowlegs there is NO mistaking how they got the name "Yellowlegs".
American Oystercatchers
American Oystercatchers are fascinating birds to photograph, They can strike unusual poses and their plumage is spectacular in flight. I enjoyed watching them pry open bivalves with their long bill
Black-billed Magpie juveniles
Adults have black eyes, the Black-billed Magpie juveniles have blue, gray or even violet eyes.
Montana Short-eared Owls
I will soon be on the road back to Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in southern Montana, another one of my favorite locations on this planet.
Friday Photos: Great Egret
I know this photo will always remind me of the great times I had photographing birds at Fort De Soto, one of my favorite places on earth.
Killdeer and Willets – Territorial Disputes
One of the habits I have developed after becoming a serious bird photographer is observing and learning about bird behavior and the habitats
Friday Photos: A Friendly Swainson’s Hawk
Last Friday I came upon this Swainson's Hawk; not just once but twice, perched on signs very close to the road.
A Shrike Kind Of Day
There are days when I see a certain species of birds quite often, depending on location it might be an Eagle filled day, or a Shorebird day. Today was a Shrike kind of day on Antelope Island State Park.
Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge – another favorite location
After a recent journey from Simpson Springs in Tooele County to Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge in Juab County I have added it as a Favorite Location. It was an amazing trip with gorgeous views. I hope to return there soon.
It has only been 4 days? Really?
For days it has been raining (sometimes hailing), cloudy and a miserable gray here in the Salt Lake Valley though it seems like two weeks to this bird photographer.
Northern Harrier in Low Light
I don't mind the motion blur in these images and because northern harriers hunt by looking down at the ground for their prey I was very happy to get eye contact in both frames.
Midges and Birds – Food for thought
This is the time of the year that "midges" are as thick as flies on you-know-what at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Antelope Island gnats are back
I hereby put the millions of biting gnats on Antelope Island on notice: No matter how many times you break through my insect repellent shield, I am still going to photograph birds on Antelope Island.
Nesting Northern Harrier
Tt was the first time that I have ever seen a Northern Harrier building a nest. It more than made my day!
Western Kingbirds – My FOY
While I observed them one of the Western Kingbirds was actively hawking insects, swooping towards a bug then perching until it saw the next insect.
Cackling Goose
Last week I spotted a bird that isn't usually here in Utah this late in migration, a Cackling Goose.
California Gulls – The 1848 Heroes of Utah’s Pioneers
Huge flocks of California Gulls allegedly descended onto the grasshoppers in the valley and made tasty meals of the insects thus preventing the total loss of the crops as the story is told.
Antelope Island State Park – Spring’s Awakening
I've spent a few days out on Antelope Island State Park this past week and from all appearances spring is making its debut.
Barn Owl Delight
I had a delightful experience this past week in northern Utah with a Barn Owl (Tyto alba) that was flying along side the road that we were traveling on.
Argh.. don’t turn!! – Male American Kestrel in flight with a vole
Male American Kestrel in flight with a vole chased off by an appraoching vehicle
Shorebirds: Spotted Sandpipers
Spotted Sandpipers are fun to watch as they walk along the shoreline as they teeter, bob and bounce their rear ends up and down.
Birds – Close To Home
I can take advantage of the sucker holes by photographing birds close to home when the sun breaks through the clouds.
Spring fever…
Spring seduces me. Refreshes me. It whispers to me softly to come outside and savor nature and wildlife.
My Wish List
Some women wish for diamonds, some men wish for fast cars while young children might wish for a pony or a trip to Disney. Me? I wish for birds. Pretty simple, huh?
Limpkins
Limpkins may not be as beautifully colored as a Roseate Spoonbill or as common as Sandhill Cranes in Florida but to me they are uniquely interesting and appealing birds.
White Ibis
In Florida White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) are a fairly common wading bird in Florida they are also seen along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico