Birds

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

Our American Tree Sparrows Will Soon Be Winging Their Way North

By |February 27th, 2019|Categories: American Tree Sparrows, Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Before too long these small but handsome American Tree Sparrows will be winging their way north to their breeding grounds in the thickets and open tundra of northern Canada and Alaska.

Back View Of An Immature Female Northern Harrier Hovering

By |February 24th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Northern Harriers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Would you be able to ID this hawk from just this image or similar view of it in the field if I hadn't already identified it in my title and my photo caption?

Winter Barn Owls In Flight During Daylight Are Hungry

By |February 23rd, 2019|Categories: American Barn Owls, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I always feel fortunate when I am able to photograph winter Barn Owls in flight during daylight hours but that means that these gorgeous owls are struggling to stay alive and that is a concern for me.

Rough-legged Hawk Expelling A Pellet Close Up Photos

By |February 20th, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've never been this close to a Rough-legged Hawk expelling a pellet before and it is likely that I will never be this fortunate again. This Rough-legged Hawk was my best bird for the day and I'm glad I stopped and waited for him to expel the pellet before moving on down the auto tour route.

Birds On The Wing At Farmington Bay

By |February 18th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Northern Shovelers, Ring-necked Pheasants, Utah, White-faced Ibises|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Even though my primary focus was on photographing Bald Eagles I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to take photos of the other birds I saw on the wing at Farmington Bay that morning.

Farmington Bay Bald Eagles Close Up And Far Away

By |February 17th, 2019|Categories: Bald Eagles, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I'd gotten the long distance images of the Bald Eagles at Farmington Bay that I wanted to take plus close up images of this adult eagle as it flew past me. It was a great morning to be at Farmington Bay.

Photographing My First of the Year American White Pelicans

By |February 16th, 2019|Categories: American White Pelicans, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I drove up to Farmington Bay WMA yesterday morning because it looked like there was going to be some nice light and because the forecast for the next week looks rather dismal for bird photography and I'm so very glad I went because I was able to photograph my first of the year American White Pelicans.

Calling Ring-billed Gull Close Up In Salt Lake County

By |February 15th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Ring-billed Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

It isn't all that often that I am able to photograph a calling Ring-billed Gull close enough that I can get a great view of the inside of its bill so when the opportunity presented itself earlier this week I took advantage of the situation.

Winter Great Blue Heron Photographed Close To Home

By |February 14th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Great Blue Herons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Two days ago on my immature Double-crested Cormorant post I mentioned that prior to photographing the cormorant that I had been taking images of a Great Blue Heron, these two photos are of that heron.

Landing Immature Double-crested Cormorant Seeking Safety

By |February 12th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Double-crested Cormorants, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

This immature Double-crested Cormorant appears to be molting and probably needs all the rest it can get because of the molt and because winter is hard on these overwintering cormorants.

Male American Kestrel In A Tree At Farmington Bay

By |February 11th, 2019|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I took a long series of photos of this male American Kestrel in a tree at Farmington Bay WMA back in January and decided that I liked these two photos of the kestrel the best.

Barn Owl, Immature Bald Eagle, California And Ring-billed Gulls

By |February 9th, 2019|Categories: American Barn Owls, Bald Eagles, Birds, California Gulls, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Ring-billed Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

So, even though I didn't get great photos yesterday I was glad to get out and photograph a Barn Owl, Bald Eagle and these California and Ring-billed Gulls.

Adult Sandhill Crane At The Edge Of A Summer Storm In Montana

By |February 4th, 2019|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Sandhill Cranes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was drawn to this photo because of the light on the Sandhill Crane and the grasses it was foraging in plus how that contrasts with the dark shadows on the mountains behind the bird.

Focusing On The Tundra Swans And Wetlands Of Bear River MBR

By |February 3rd, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One year ago today I spent the morning focusing on and photographing the Tundra Swans and wetlands of Bear River MBR and I have to say that those birds and the marshes bring me such joy that I feel like I have to share them over and over.

Drake Common Goldeneye Flapping His Wings On The Jordan River

By |February 2nd, 2019|Categories: Birds, Common Goldeneyes, Jordan River Parkway Trail, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

During the winter I'm able to see some of the ducks that I don't see during the breeding season here in northern Utah on the Jordan River including Common Goldeneyes.

Close Up Photos Of An Immature Bald Eagle In Flight

By |February 1st, 2019|Categories: Bald Eagles, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

If I hadn't already been stopped to photograph the blackbird I wouldn't have seen this immature Bald Eagle flying towards me in time to take the photos that I took of it on the wing.

Red-winged Blackbird Male Singing In January

By |January 31st, 2019|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Red-winged Blackbirds, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , |

It has been nearly a year since I posted any photos of Red-winged Blackbirds and since I took photos of a cooperative, sticky male yesterday I thought I should rectify that situation and share two photos here this morning.

Bird Gatherings – Pied-billed Grebes, Great Egrets And More

By |January 30th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Great Egrets, Pied-billed Grebes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It is winter here but the birds know that spring is around the corner and more gatherings like the ones I saw two days ago will happen again and I hope I am able to slow down and enjoy it.

White-faced Ibis Overwintering In The Marshes Of Farmington Bay

By |January 29th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, Wading Birds, White-faced Ibises|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When the clouds cleared out yesterday morning there were birds to be found and today I am focusing my daily post on the White-faced Ibis that overwinter in the marshes of Farmington Bay WMA that I photographed there yesterday.

Go to Top