Birds

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

Treasury of American Goldfinches at Bear River MBR

By |November 28th, 2017|Categories: American Goldfinches, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last week I found a small flock of American Goldfinches foraging on the auto tour route at Bear River MBR and I was able to capture a few images of them before they took off in a rush.

For The Love Of All That’s Birdy, There Is No Such Thing As A Seagull

By |November 26th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, California Gulls, Davis County, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Laughing Gulls, Pinellas County, Ring-billed Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

One of the things that make my feathers ruffle though is when I see people post a bird photo and call it a "seagull" because there is no such thing as a seagull.

Wondering How the Lone Surviving Red-tailed Hawk Juvenile Is Doing

By |November 25th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've been thinking a lot about the lone surviving Red-tailed Hawk from the nest that blew down because of strong winds earlier in June.

Bear River MBR Clouds, Marshes, Sunshine and an Immature Western Grebe

By |November 23rd, 2017|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Western Grebes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning found me at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, a wild and wonderful place that I am very thankful for because of the birds there, the spectacular scenery and the refuge I find within its boundaries.

Resting Pied-billed Grebe on Silky Looking Water

By |November 20th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Pied-billed Grebes, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

The Pied-billed Grebe was a bit too far away to take frame filling images of it but I was okay with that because I feel that the visual appearance of the silky water is just as important as the bird in these photos.

Side By Side Prairie and Peregrine Falcon Comparison

By |November 18th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

There are other differences in plumage between Prairie and Peregrine Falcons that show in my photos but by using just their heads it is possible to make a quick ID in the field.

Wondering If “My” Canada x Snow Goose Hybrid Will Be Back This Winter

By |November 15th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Canada Geese, Hybrid Geese, Salt Lake County, Snow Geese, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've been wondering if "my" Canada x Snow Goose hybrid will be back this winter, if it will show up at the same pond and if I will be able to photograph it again.

Winter Redhead Drakes in Northern Utah

By |November 14th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Redheads, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Redhead drakes are more colorful than the hens and I always enjoy having them in my viewfinder because of their cinnamon colored heads, their bright orange eyes and their tri-colored bills.

Pied-billed Grebe With Prey

By |November 13th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Pied-billed Grebes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

It can be especially fun to watch these small grebes catch a fish to eat and then see the other Pied-billed Grebes nearby try to steal the fish away from it because of the action that can occur.

Female Brewer’s Blackbird With Light Colored Eyes?

By |November 12th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Brewer's Blackbirds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Within the flock of blackbirds there was a female Brewer's Blackbird that drew my attention to her because she had light colored eyes and stood out from the other females that were nearby.

Birds and Beasts in a November 2012 Snow Storm on Antelope Island

By |November 10th, 2017|Categories: American Bison, Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Coyotes, Davis County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The birds and beasts on Antelope can survive the harsh winters here but as each years passes I wonder how they will be able to adapt to our changing climate. I can't help but be concerned.

Stretching Green Heron at Sawgrass Lake Park

By |November 8th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Florida, Green Herons, Pinellas County, Sawgrass Lake Park|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This Green Heron was photographed from and elevated boardwalk at Sawgrass Lake Park, it had been preening when I walked slowly up to it and when it stretched its wing I took this image.

Feathered Tarsi – Ferruginous & Rough-legged Hawks Have Feathered Legs

By |November 7th, 2017|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Ferruginous Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Swainson's Hawks, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

North America has two hawk (buteos) species that have feathered tarsi, or legs, those two species are Ferruginous Hawks and Rough-legged Hawks.

Bear River MBR Barn Owls in Flight – All Small in the Frame

By |November 6th, 2017|Categories: American Barn Owls, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Owls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

By having the Barn Owls smaller in the frame in my photos I can share more visual information about where these beautiful owls live, hunt and thrive.

Immature Reddish Egret & Adult in Flight with Nesting Material

By |November 5th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Lassing Park, Pinellas County, Reddish Egrets|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Immature or adult, dark or white morph, Reddish Egrets are spectacular and fascinating wading birds to see, observe and photograph.

Fish Crow in flight over Egmont Key, Florida – Why So Many Views

By |November 4th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Egmont Key State Park, Fish Crows, Florida, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This Fish Crow in flight over Egmont Key In Florida image isn't the best, I see many flaws in it, but on my old photo gallery this photo had by far the most views in the entire gallery.

Immature Red-tailed Hawk Looking At The Rising Sun – Plus a New Personal Challenge

By |November 3rd, 2017|Categories: Birds, Red-tailed Hawks, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I have wondered lately if I have gotten into a bit of a rut, photographically speaking, of always wanting to have the sun over my shoulder with "perfect" light falling directly on my subject.

What Not To Do When Finding a Baby Bird – Caged Lark Sparrow

By |October 31st, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Lark Sparrows, Nesting Birds, Utah, Wildlife Ethics|Tags: , , , , , , , |

I wasn't sure I wanted to write this post about an imprisoned Lark Sparrow I heard about on a Facebook group that is about identifying birds but after mulling it over I decided I'd tell the story.

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