Golden Reflections and a Pied-billed Grebe
The golden reflections with just a hint of blue compliment the golden tones of the plumage of the Pied-billed Grebe.
Winter Wanderers – Rough-legged Hawks
I have started seeing Rough-legged Hawks again in northern Utah and that has me excited. I have seen them in Utah County and Davis County but I haven't gotten any quality photos of them yet
Red-tailed Hawk juvenile in flight in low light
I could not resist photographing the young Red-tailed Hawk though as it lifted off and flew in front of me after prey even though conditions were not ideal.
How House Finches moved East
House Finches are fairly common birds throughout the U.S. Mexico and into Central America but they didn't used to be common in the eastern U.S.
Great Blue Heron hunkered down against winter’s brutal cold
Last December I photographed this Great Blue Heron as it hunkered down against the brutal cold at the edge of the water in a marsh.
Time to look for Northern Shrikes
I write about the raptors I expect to see during the winter in Utah but there are also song birds I keep an eye out for too like this immature Northern Shrike.
Juvenile Northern Harrier in flight
Northern Harriers are year round residents in Utah and I am encouraged by the numbers of them I have seen lately at Farmington Bay WMA.
White-crowned Sparrow Juvenile on a wild rose
It was nice to get out yesterday morning and photograph a few birds including this juvenile White-crowned Sparrow perched on a wild rose.
Snow Birds – Dark-eyed Juncos
When I lived in Virginia I could almost predict when the first snow would fall because the juncos showed at my feeders up a day or two before the first winter storm.
Autumn Pronghorn Portraits
I am very fortunate to live in an area where I can see these beautiful creatures up close and that is some thing I don't take for granted.
Downy Woodpecker In The Willows At Farmington Bay
I was delighted to spot this male Downy Woodpecker in the willows the last time I went out to Farmington Bay Bird Refuge.
Preening Brewer’s Blackbird
I have been seeing plenty of blackbirds lately at Farmington Bay WMA and a few days ago I photographed this preening Brewer's Blackbird on a fence post.
Pied-billed Grebe Shaking it Off
I'm seeing more and more Pied-billed Grebes and that excites me because these little guys might be small but they are tough. They kind of remind me of myself.
Utah’s Bounty Program on Coyotes is just plain stupid
There is an article about the coyote bounty program in the Salt Lake Tribune that has me ticked off, or should I call it the ignorant name the state gave it, "Mule Deer Preservation Act".
Juvenile dark morph Harlan’s Hawk
Harlan's Hawks are a subspecies of Red-tailed Hawks that breed in Alaska and northern Canada and spend their winters in the northern Great Plains.
Nature’s Gifts
75,326 coyotes in 2013 were "denied" their portion of Nature's gifts when they were senselessly exterminated by USDA’s Wildlife Services
Rock Hopping Chukar
I've been missing Chukars on Antelope Island for the past few months.
Autumn colors and a resting Clark’s Grebe
Autumn colors have begun to appear and they are delightful when reflected on the water with a nearly black and white subject like this resting Clark's Grebe.
Red-winged Blackbird and a Midge
This male Red-winged Blackbird was photographed yesterday at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area.
The Coyote and the Deer Fly
Two years ago during the worst of the summer heat I photographed this Coyote and watched while it was pestered and probably bitten by a persistent Deer Fly.
Northern Harriers And “Ground Hunting”
Whatever the reason for this behavior I know that I enjoy photographing Northern Harriers while they are ground hunting in a winter wonderland.
The Tapestry of Ecology
I often see this phrase "species in decline due to habitat destruction or fragmentation" or something similar and the frequency of seeing that phrase is most likely to become higher.
Looking ahead to winter
We catch up and share stories of birds we saw in the warmer months and reveal the journeys we have been on.
Calling juvenile Black-necked Stilt
Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management area is a great place to see Black-necked Stilts during the breeding season and to see their young later on.
Leaping Western Meadowlark
I was ready when I thought this Western Meadowlark was going to take flight but instead the meadowlark took a flying leap towards the ground.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird – a photographic lifer
Photographing hummingbirds in the wild can be daunting and fast paced, so fast paced that there are times I don't often have time to properly ID them in the field.
Beautiful Pollinators
Yesterday the light wasn't great in the morning but I did get out to take some images an Antelope Island and there were plenty of pollinators out and about.
Female American Kestrel On A Frosty Winter Morn
American Kestrels are year round residents in Utah and when the cold sets in they are less skittish and will allow closer approaches.
Monday Medley of Bees, Moths and Hummingbirds
I've compiled a medley of images this morning of bees, moths and hummingbirds that I have photographed this past week to share this morning.
Hovering Forster’s Tern
Last week I photographed this adult Forster's Tern in flight as it foraged for food above Glover Pond near Farmington Bay WMA.