Birds that I find in the field, photograph and share the stories behind the images.
American Kestrel Male
The American Kestrel is our smallest falcon in North America but what they lack in size I feel they make up for in attitude.
The Savannah Sparrows of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
These Savannah Sparrows were nearly as much fun to observe as they were to photograph. They are very active birds and it was a challenge to keep up with them
One Willet’s defense of its young
Yesterday I observed an adult Willet defending its young from a group of Black-billed Magpies that were near the Willet's chicks.
Friday Photos – Northern Mockingbird
A Loggerhead Shrike flew into a sagebrush and right after that I could hear a bird that sounded upset. The upset bird was this Northern Mockingbird.
Snowy Plover Resting at the Wrack Line
I spotted this plover resting near the wrack line near the Gulf of Mexico during the winter and sand-crawled up close to it to get a low angle in the beautiful light.
American Barn Owls on Antelope Island
I really, really, really wish these young American Barn Owls had been perched on something that looked more natural than old bent metal with droppings all over it
Summer Lunacy – Nikon’s Image Overlay Function
Nikon's Image Overlay Function. Yes, I was experimenting with a little bit of Summer Lunacy. This is a bit whimsical and it makes me smile.
Friday Photos – White Morph Reddish Egret
Reddish Egrets seem to be natural born "Dancers" when they are hunting for prey, they twirl, spin, piroquette and dip.
Red Knots – A species on the edge
Red Knots are on the edge of extinction and without further regulation of Horseshoe Crab harvesting in North America plus additional protection and conservation measures for Red Knots they may well disappear in our lifetime.
Chukars of Antelope Island – Throughout the Year
Photographs of the Chukars on Antelope Island State Park, Utah throughout the year.
Killdeer Calling in Habitat
As a "Nature" photographer one of my goals is to create images that show the bird or animal's natural habitat within the frame
Shorebirds: Long-billed Curlew juvenile
Sometimes I just feel so lucky being a bird photographer. Not only do I get to be outside in nature when I am photographing, but I get nice surprises too like when this Long-billed Curlew juvenile approached near enough to get head shots of it.
Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron
This young Yellow-crowned Night Heron moved very slowly and it seemed to do that deliberately.
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.