Sage Thrasher Portraits
Yesterday I had an immature Sage Thrasher get so close to me that I was able to take portraits of it as it perched out in the open.
Photographing Pelicans, Herons, Egrets and Geese in Flight in Rapidly Changing Light
I had a great deal of fun photographing the pelicans, herons, egrets and geese in flight in the rapidly changing light yesterday morning at Bear River MBR.
Swainson’s Hawk Pooping While Perched on a Fence Post
So what better image to end my week of published posts with than a Swainson's Hawk pooping while perched on a fence post in northern Utah? I can't think of one.
Bear River MBR Clark’s Grebe Portrait
This Clark's Grebe portrait shows the brilliant red eye, the smoothness of the sharp bill and tiny water droplets in the downy plumage of the grebe's face, crown and neck.
Male Black-necked Stilt near the auto loop at Bear River MBR
The Black-necked Stilt adults seem to be still keeping an eye on their young and that is what this male Black-necked Stilt was doing near the auto tour loop.
Fifteen Minutes with Sibling Burrowing Owl Juveniles
Yesterday morning I spent fifteen minutes with sibling Burrowing Owl juveniles in northern Utah not long after the sun came up and while there was still golden light.
Wasatch Mountain Range Chipmunk
It seemed like every where I looked I saw little chipmunks scurrying around on the ground and climbing in the scrub oaks that dot the western side of the Wasatch Mountains.
Nonbreeding American Avocet foraging at Bear River MBR
The American Avocets look a bit different now than they did earlier in the year because they are now in their paler, less colorful nonbreeding plumage.
Yawning Juvenile Burrowing Owl
I haven't posted a Burrowing Owl in a bit so I thought I would share this yawning juvenile Burrowing Owl that I photographed the beginning of July.
An Extreme Variation of Supplemental Plumage in an American White Pelican
Two days ago while on the auto tour loop at Bear River MBR an American White Pelican caught my eyes because of its unusually dark crown, nape, and neck plumage.
Adult American Bittern at Bear River NWR
The bird I was looking at wasn't a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron at all, it was an adult American Bittern out in the open!
Adult Snowy Egret Hunting for Prey
I liked the crouched position of this Snowy Egret as it was about to strike the prey it was hunting and when it struck it did capture and eat the small fish.
Juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons at Bear River MBR
I saw plenty of birds yesterday including juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons at Bear River MBR every where I looked.
Juvenile Northern Harrier Flying Over a Snowy Field
Temps were probably in the teens when I photographed this juvenile harrier in January of 2010 at Farmington Bay. Ahhh.
Wildfire on Antelope Island State Park (Update)
Friday evening a wildfire started on Antelope Island State Park several miles northwest of Fielding Garr Ranch. The cause is thought to be lightning.
Celebrating Seven Years in Utah – Photographing Birds, Wildlife and Scenery
My journey in life has taken me to many places and I'm glad that it brought me to Utah where I am enjoying photographing birds, wildlife and scenery. Seven years ago today.
New Genus for Sandhill Cranes
Another change that has officially occurred was that Sandhill Cranes were moved from the genus Grus to Antigone.
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay – A Familiar Bird with a New Name
The long-awaited Scrub-Jay split has officially happened! Western Scrub-Jay can be crossed out in a our fields guides and the two new names California Scrub-Jay and Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay can be penciled in.
Uinta Ground Squirrels in the Uinta Mountains
One of the Uinta Ground Squirrels stood up and simply looked around right on the shoulder of the road and I couldn't resist photographing it.
Juvenile Loggerhead Shrike with a Robber Fly
When I took this image the juvenile Loggerhead Shrike was perched on a dead twig when the robber fly flew into the frame, the shrike took off after the fly and caught it in mid air.
Wood Duck Hen with Duckling
On the day I photographed this Wood Duck hen with her duckling the duckweed covered the surface.
American White Pelican in summer plumage
I wanted to share an image of an American White Pelican in summer plumage today because summer is upon us and today marks America's Independence Day.
Explore. Dream. Discover.
Looking back over the last 20 years of my life I can see many times where I threw off the bowlines and sailed away from safe harbor.
Update on the Injured Short-eared Owl Fledgling
I'm so sorry this Short-eared Owl fledgling won't be released like the Barn Owl I helped to rescue in Montana but rescuing it from the barbed wire was still the right thing to do.
The State of North American Birds and its Not Good News
These four birds, an American Oystercatcher, a Greater Sage-Grouse, a Reddish Egret and a Mountain Plover are all facing the risk of extinction without serious conservation measures to reduce declines in populations and habitat destruction.
Mated Pair of Mourning Doves in Northern Utah
Last month while looking for owls in northern Utah I found a mated pair of Mourning Doves resting side by side on a barbed wire fence.
Red-naped Sapsuckers Feeding Chicks at a Nesting Cavity in the Uintas
Finding Red-naped Sapsuckers feeding chicks at a nesting cavity in the Uintas made my day!
Mallard Hen with Duckling at Bear River MBR
Because I was close I wasn't able to get a single image with all of the ducklings and the hen in the frame so I focused on the Mallard hen and with one duckling resting right behind her.
Tattered Looking Molting Red-tailed Hawk
This time of the year I see plenty of molting Red-tailed Hawks and they can look pretty tattered, worn and shabby.
Fledgling Short-eared Owl Portraits
Yesterday I was able to take a series of fledgling Short-eared Owl portraits when this young owl perched on a metal post right next to a road in Box Elder County, Utah.