Male Belted Kingfisher at Farmington Bay WMA
I wasn't expecting to see a handsome male Belted Kingfisher at Farmington Bay WMA yesterday but that is exactly what happened and I was able to get some nice photos of him too.
Red-winged Blackbird Perched In Rabbitbrush Fluff
Several of the Red-winged Blackbirds were feeding on the fluffy rabbitbrush seeds next to a parking area including this male.
Wild Turkeys in Utah
Maybe next time I up in the canyons I will get lucky and spot some of the Wild Turkeys that make their home in the Stansbury Mountains.
American Herring Gulls in Northern Utah
We do see Herring Gulls in northern Utah during the winter and I was able to photograph this one as it circled over the water with the snow-covered Promontory Mountains and sky behind it.
Ring-billed Gulls at Bear River MBR & How the Migratory Bird Treaty Act Saved Them
There were at least 50 Ring-billed Gulls at Bear River MBR diving into the open water looking for fish that winter morning which gave me plenty of chances to photograph them.
Wintry Barn Owl Flight
Earlier this year in January I was able to photograph a Barn Owl in flight flying directly towards me with the snowy Promontory Mountains in the background while at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Red-tailed Hawk Fluttering Its Wings
When I took this image of a Red-tailed Hawk fluttering its wings on a pole in Box Elder County earlier this month I didn't think I'd like it and I am still not sure if I do.
Red-breasted Mergansers Are Back In Utah
Red-breasted Mergansers do not breed in Utah, they breed much further north in Alaska, across northern Canada to New Newfoundland and the Great Lakes of Michigan but they do migrate through this area.
My First of the Season Rough-legged Hawks
I went to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge yesterday hoping to see and photograph my first of the season Tundra Swans and Rough-legged Hawks, I dipped on the swans but found at least 5 of the hawks.
Photographing Short-eared Owls – From Chicks to Adults
This year was exceptional for photographing Short-eared Owls in Utah, Idaho and Montana and being able to see them in all the stages of their growth.
Immature Pied-billed Grebe running on the water with its prey at Farmington Bay
I took a series of action photos of this immature Pied-billed Grebe running on the water with its prey as it was being chased by another grebe that was trying to steal the food this young grebe had caught.
Male Brewer’s Blackbird on an Autumn Day
Brewer's Blackbirds are year round residents in northern Utah and in the autumn they form large flocks that move through open field looking for seeds and fallen grain.
An Unexpected Barn Owl at Farmington Bay
Yesterday I spent time photographing a cooperative yet unexpected Barn Owl at Farmington Bay, unexpected simply because Barn Owl are primarily nocturnal and I saw it during the day.
American Bittern – Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron Comparison
To the untrained eye American Bitterns and Black-crowned Night Herons can be confused so I thought I'd visually compare the two species with other keys to aid in their identification.
American Coots in Northern Utah
American Coots have interesting behaviors that I like to try to capture, for instance the way they run across the surface of the water during territorial chases.
West Desert Red-tailed Hawk Under Gray, Blustery Skies
I didn't think I'd like this photo of a perched Red-tailed Hawk under gray, blustery skies but I do
Waiting For The Impending Arrival of Tundra Swans in Northern Utah
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge hosts up to 13,000 Tundra Swans during November through December where they utilize the freshwater wetland habitats on the refuge.
American Goldfinch Feeding Upside Down in a Snow-covered Field
This American Goldfinch feeding upside down on seeds over the snow-covered field has always made me chuckle a bit because of the pose of the finch.
White-crowned Sparrows in Snow
Last winter I photographed adult and juvenile White-crowned Sparrows in the snow in low light conditions and was pleased with the resulting photos.
Great Blue Heron resting in a Canada Goose nest at Farmington Bay WMA
Two days ago when I found this Great Blue Heron resting in the goose nest I knew I had to photograph it because of the autumn colors in the background.
Migrating American Pipits in Utah – Pipits Everywhere!
American Pipits are migrating through Utah in large numbers right now and yesterday morning at Farmington Bay they seemed to be everywhere!
Mule Deer Buck At Bear River MBR – Celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week
Last fall I photographed this beautiful Mule Deer buck at Bear River MBR in rut as he followed a doe around the frost-covered marsh.
American White Pelican in flight over Farmington Bay WMA – They Are Migrating
If you would like to follow some of the American White Pelicans from Utah on migration a few of them have been fitted with solar-powered GPS transmitter backpacks and the PeliTrack map shows their locations.
Birds of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge – Celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week
This is National Wildlife Refuge Week and in celebration I wanted to do a pictorial essay that includes some of my images of the Birds of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Bison bull grazing on a crisp January morning
When I photographed this bison bull grazing on a crisp January morning I recall how cold my hands and cheeks were and that I could hear the crunching sounds the bull made as he ate.
White-crowned Sparrow Adults Feeding on Seeds
Yesterday I was able to photograph a few White-crowned Sparrow adults feeding on seeds of rabbitbrush and greasewood on Antelope Island State Park.
Burrowing Owls of Northern Utah
It might be a long drive in the wee hours of the morning to get to where these Burrowing Owls are in northern Utah during the breeding season but they are worth it
Northern Shoveler Drake and Hen
This beautiful Northern Shoveler drake in breeding plumage was photographed in one of those no hunting areas on New Years Day 2015 at Farmington Bay.
Esther the Eaglet – Cover Photo
I like that Esther the Eaglet is written with children in mind and that it might inspire the children who read it to become rehabilitators, biologists, ornithologists, nature lovers, birders, environmentalists or even bird photographers like myself.
Trio of Young Raccoons at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Yesterday I found a trio of young Raccoons at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and was able to take a series of images of them from inside my Jeep as they cautiously checked me out.