Birds

Birds that I find in the field, photograph and share the stories behind the images.

Photographing Great Blue Herons On The Frozen Marshes Of Bear River MBR

By |January 8th, 2020|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I spent time focusing on photographing Great Blue Herons on the frozen marshes of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

Male American Kestrels At Bear River MBR

By |January 7th, 2020|Categories: American Kestrels, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While this male American Kestrel struggled to maintain his grip on the thin branches of the Tamarisk I struggled to keep him in my viewfinder.

Hooded Merganser Drake – A One Day Opportunity

By |January 5th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Hooded Mergansers, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In December I had eight minutes and twenty-four seconds to photograph this Hooded Merganser drake and every time I have gone to the local pond after that I have looked for him to be there again.

High Key Male Belted Kingfisher

By |January 3rd, 2020|Categories: Belted Kingfishers, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday there was a bit of light in the morning so I went to see if there were any birds that could be photographed at my local ponds and I was delighted when I heard the rattling call of a Belted Kingfisher.

My First Birds of 2020 – American Crows In A Grocery Store Parking Lot

By |January 2nd, 2020|Categories: American Crows, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I always get excited about what the first bird will be that I see at the beginning of the new year and for two years in a row now my first birds of the year have been American Crows.

Ferruginous Hawks in Utah

By |December 26th, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Ferruginous Hawks, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Knowing what kind of habitat Ferruginous Hawks prefer during all four seasons here in northern Utah can increase the chances of finding them year round.

Christmas Morning Snowfall

By |December 25th, 2019|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Jordan River Parkway Trail, Peregrine Falcons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It is still dark here in northern Utah but I can tell there is some fresh snow on the ground so I guess that makes this a white Christmas even if the white stuff melts before the sun comes up over the mountains.

Time For Winter Bald Eagle Photography In Northern Utah

By |December 23rd, 2019|Categories: Bald Eagles, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

So if you don't enjoy the craziness that can happen at Farmington Bay WMA when the Bald Eagles arrive for the winter just pick an area and go for a relaxed drive to another location.

An Immature Rough-legged Hawk Hunting For Prey At Bear River MBR

By |December 21st, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Two days ago when I stopped counting Rough-legged Hawks while at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge the number had topped out at fifteen.

Split Second Eye Contact With An Immature Northern Harrier

By |December 20th, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Northern Harriers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Two frames later the immature Northern Harrier tilted its head, looked directly towards my lens, and seemed to eyeball me and my gear.

Female American Kestrel On A Crabapple Tree Near The Jordan River

By |December 17th, 2019|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was delighted when I spotted this female American Kestrel perched high on a crabapple tree next to a road near the Jordan River and pleased that she stuck around for a few photos.

I Should Have Listened To My Instincts Yesterday

By |December 16th, 2019|Categories: American Barn Owls, Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Short-eared Owls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I might have taken some wonderful photos of birds in nice light yesterday if I had only listened to my instincts and gone out to look for birds.

Portrait Of An Adult White-crowned Sparrow Eating Greasewood Seeds

By |December 13th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, White-crowned Sparrows|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I look at this White-crowned Sparrow portrait I can count the orbital feathers of the bottom portion of the bird's eye and the rictal bristles near the bill.

Focusing On Winter Redheads

By |December 11th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Redheads, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Why were the mallards sticking close to this Redhead? That was because she was diving down into the pond and bringing up aquatic vegetation to feed on and the mallards were stealing bits of it from her. 

Drake Hooded Merganser Photos

By |December 10th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Hooded Mergansers, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday started off dreary but later in the afternoon I was able to get out in the field and I had a blast taking photos of a spiffy drake Hooded Merganser for a little while.

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