Antelope Island Chukars – From Chicks to Adults
Antelope Island Chukars don't just attract out of town visitors to the island, they still call in locals like myself to see, hear and photograph them.
Adult Box Elder County Yellow-bellied Marmot
I was able to take images of a Box Elder County Yellow-bellied Marmot further south next to the road near the foothills of the Promontory Mountains.
Adult Western Kingbird Close Up
This adult Western Kingbird close up was photographed two years ago on Antelope Island State Park as it perched on a sign post close to a nest site.
Cliff Swallow Nesting Season at Bear River MBR
More of the swallows will migrate to the refuge very soon and the Cliff Swallow nesting season will start.
Mallard Drake Portrait Salt Lake County, Utah
I was able to take a Mallard drake portrait of one of the ducks that were close and loved how this showed the blue green iridescence.
Mountain Bluebird Plumage Development Stages
These images from different times of the year show Mountain Bluebird plumage development stages from not long after fledging to adulthood.
A First Day of Spring Western Grebe
I eagerly anticipate the birds that arrive with spring including an early spring Western Grebe who will soon be courting and rushing at the refuge.
A Dead D810 and a Killdeer in a burned area of Bear River MBR
After they burn the phragmites it doesn't take long for life to go back to normal for some of the birds like this Killdeer in a burned area.
Chukars Above the Great Salt Lake
Both of these Chukars above the Great Salt Lake were photographed on the east side of Antelope Island State Park this month.
Great Blue Heron at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
These images of a Great Blue Heron at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge were taken last September on the auto tour route at the refuge.
Yellow-bellied Marmots at Capitol Reef National Park
The highlight of my morning yesterday was photographing two Yellow-bellied Marmots at Capitol Reef National Park.
West Desert Horned Lark in Golden Light
This West Desert Horned Lark in golden light was taken in the foothills of the Stansbury Mountains of Tooele County on a clear morning last month.
Peregrine Falcon in flight in front of a sandstone cliff face
I was able to photograph this Peregrine Falcon in flight in front of a brightly colored sandstone cliff face with the light of the setting sun on it. I was delighted.
Western Meadowlark Take Off Photo
Yesterday I found this Western Meadowlark take off photo that I took last year on Antelope Island State Park.
Juvenile Barn Swallow at Bear River MBR
Last year in mid August I photographed a very cooperative juvenile Barn Swallow at Bear River MBR and realized I hadn't posted any images of the bird or written about my encounter with it.
Turkey Vultures are Nature’s Clean Up Crew
Turkey Vultures are Nature's clean up crew. They consume road kill and other dead animals and and in doing so they clean up the messy stuff.
An Immature Black-billed Magpie in Flight
I photographed this immature Black-billed Magpie in flight last September on Antelope Island State Park as it flew over a rabbitbrush that was just about to bloom.
Western and Eastern Kingbird Juveniles
I feel fortunate that I am able to see and photograph both the Western and Eastern Kingbird juveniles here in northern Utah.
Two Loggerhead Shrike Juveniles On A Log
These two Loggerhead Shrike juveniles on a log were photographed last August on Antelope Island and were probably from a second brood.
Pair of Sandhill Cranes Calling in Flight
I was photographing a pair of cranes foraging on the ground when a pair of Sandhill Cranes calling in flight flew over and I took a series of images of them.
Sage Thrasher in Golden Light
I didn't get to see Greater Sage Grouse on my recent trip to southern Utah but I did get a few brief looks at another sagebrush obligate when a single Sage Thrasher popped up into view.
Adult Golden Eagle Perched and in Flight
I was able to get a few images of a Golden Eagle yesterday morning as it perched on some huge, ancient boulders in early morning light.
Pair of Sandhill Cranes in Wayne County
My life is great whenever I can photograph a pair of Sandhill Cranes wherever I find them and yesterday I had these beauties in my viewfinder.
The Long-billed Curlew Scores
This pose made me think "The Long-billed Curlew Scores" but he was really just exhibiting a territorial response to another curlew that was nearby
Greater Sage-Grouse, White-tailed Prairie Dogs and the Sagebrush Steppe
A short trip to look for Greater Sage-Grouse, White-tailed Prairie Dogs and the other birds and animals that call the sagebrush steppe their home.
Short-eared Owl in Tooele County, Utah
It has been a while since I photographed this Short-eared Owl in Tooele County at the James W. Fitzgerald WMA
Loggerhead Shrikes – Different Backgrounds and Light
Both of these Loggerhead Shrikes were photographed on Antelope Island State Park, both of them are adults, both were photographed when the sky was clear and both were perched on a dead twig of a greasewood but they were also photographed with different backgrounds, different times of the morning and different light.
Marsh Wren Nesting Season Begins Soon
The males will start singing before too long and the Marsh Wren nesting season in Utah will begin.
Tundra Swans Lifting Off from Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Watching and photographing the Tundra Swans lifting off from Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge yesterday was slightly bittersweet for me because I know they will soon be heading north to mate.
Mule Deer Yearling On The Foothills Of The Stansbury Mountains
There were a number of yearlings in the herd including this Mule Deer yearling that was on a slight ridge who appeared to be looking right at me.