Birds

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

Towhees, Warblers, Kinglets, Gnatcatchers – Oh My!

By |September 26th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Common Yellowthroats, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Spotted Towhees, Utah, Yellow-rumped Warblers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It has been a long time since I have had such a birdy day and the towhees, warblers, kinglets, gnatcatchers and the rest of the birds that I saw thrilled me all morning long.

Adult Peregrine Falcon and Godzilla Perched High Over the County Landfill

By |September 24th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Lee Kay Ponds, Peregrine Falcons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Peregrine Falcon was quite content on its rusty, lofty perch and didn't do anything but turn its head to see what was going on down below it.

Autumn Pine Siskins at Farmington Bay WMA

By |September 22nd, 2017|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Pine Siskins, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I took this photo of two Pine Siskins in the autumn of 2015 as they perched together on a wild sunflower at Farmington Bay WMA where they appeared to be having a tiff over the seeds.

Adult and Immature Song Sparrows

By |September 21st, 2017|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Song Sparrows, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I was able to photograph and adult Song Sparrow eating while perched at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge early in the morning.

Adult Western Meadowlark on Blooming Rabbitbrush

By |September 20th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Utah, Western Meadowlarks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

This Western Meadowlark perched on a blooming Rabbitbrush the first September after I had moved to Utah and I was thrilled to take this photograph on Antelope Island State Park.

American Pipits On The Rocks

By |September 19th, 2017|Categories: American Pipits, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've been hearing American Pipits on the wing for a while now and yesterday I was happy to photograph several pipits while they perched on some rocks in northern Utah.

I Stop For Coots Any Time I See Them

By |September 17th, 2017|Categories: American Coots, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Beaverhead County, Birds, Box Elder County, Centennial Valley, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've written before that I love American Coots and I guess that will never change, I will stop for coots any time I see them, I will photograph them and enjoy their antics.

Male Belted Kingfisher in Winter at Farmington Bay WMA

By |September 16th, 2017|Categories: Belted Kingfishers, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Belted Kingfishers are year round residents in northern Utah but my best opportunities to photograph them at Farmington Bay WMA are during the winter.

Caspian Tern Banded at Malheur NWR Flying over Bear River MBR

By |September 14th, 2017|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Caspian Terns, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Although I didn't see it at the time I photographed this bird in flight the Caspian Tern did fly in close enough for me to capture images that showed it had bands on its legs.

American White Pelican Dumping a Load in Flight

By |September 12th, 2017|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I focused on this bird I didn't know I'd be photographing an American White Pelican dumping a load while flying over the marshes at the refuge with the Promontory Mountains in the background.

Wading Birds At Bear River MBR Yesterday

By |September 11th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had fun photographing the juvenile Great Blue Heron, juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron and the adult Snowy Egret yesterday at Bear River MBR. I especially loved the clearer skies.

Is This American White Pelican Flying With Its Bill Full?

By |September 9th, 2017|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I just don't know but I do know I have never seen an American White Pelican in flight with its bill looking like this ever before and I have photographed them hundreds of times in flight.

Juvenile Mourning Dove in Morning Light in Southwestern Montana

By |September 8th, 2017|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Mourning Doves, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The juvenile and out of focus adult Mourning Doves were perched on a lichen encrusted, slightly frosted fence rail near the road in the southern part of the Centennial Valley.

Clark’s Grebes Rushing in September at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |September 7th, 2017|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Clark's Grebes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was positively amazed to see the Clark's Grebes rushing across the water this late in the year, personally I've never seen them rush past the end of July.

Franklin’s and Ring-billed Gulls Flying in Smoky Skies

By |September 6th, 2017|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Franklin's Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I did take some nice Franklin's and Ring-billed Gull photos in flight over the water of the marshes at the refuge despite the smoky sky.

Young Trumpeter Swan Glowing Brightly On Dark Waters In Montana

By |August 31st, 2017|Categories: Beaverhead County, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Trumpeter Swans|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One of my fondest memories for photographing Trumpeter Swans happened on an evening of September of 2015 in southwestern Montana.

Winter Common Mergansers – A Visual Break From The Summer Heat

By |August 30th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Common Mergansers, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Back in February there was still snow on the ground, ice on the water and Common Mergansers were at Farmington Bay WMA and some were sporting their breeding plumage.

Juvenile American White Pelican at Bear River MBR

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

When the young American White Pelicans are old enough to leave the island they fly to areas like Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge to learn how to catch fish on their own before they migrate in the fall.

Pied-billed Grebe with Prey at Farmington Bay – West Davis Corridor Impacts

By |August 27th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Pied-billed Grebes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In just a little over two weeks birders, hunters and bird photographers should have access to more of Farmington Bay WMA than we have had since March. Or will we?

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