Eye Color Variation in California Gulls
The typical eye color for California Gulls is a very dark brown that appears almost black in most cases but there can be variations in their eye color.
Canada x Snow Goose Hybrid – Its Parentage Had Bewildered Me
This Canada Goose hybrid could be a Canada x Snow Goose or a Canada x Greater White-fronted Goose hybrid, those two species make the most sense to me, but I can't be certain of its parentage.
Male Common Goldeneye in Breeding Plumage on the Jordan River
I photographed this male Common Goldeneye in breeding plumage on the Jordan River in Salt Lake County, Utah in low light on a cold morning.
Canada Geese Portraits
Three days ago when the sun broke through the clouds in the afternoon I went to the pond and was able to take several Canada Geese portraits with the blue water of the pond in the background.
American Coot Being Chased For Its Food
The American Coot seemed to turn its head a few times to see if it was still being chased and when it saw that it was it it kept scooting across the surface of the pond and always kept its bill clamped down on its food.
Double-crested Cormorant with its Catch – The Story Behind the Images
It was fun photographing this Double-crested Cormorant with its catch yesterday afternoon close to home especially since I knew the weather was going to take a turn.
Redhead Drakes
This Redhead drake photographed at the refuge in his breeding plumage sure stood out well from the water that was reflecting the spring growth of rushes and phragmites.
Winter American Coots
Winter is a great time to photograph these coots close to home because they seem more approachable plus the water picks up wonderful reflections from the snow on the ground at the edge of the pond.
Adult Snow Goose on Willow Pond
There were several hundred Canada Geese on the pond and because I have seen reports of Cackling and Snow Geese in the area I scanned the pond with my lens and spotted a lone Snow Goose.
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.
Clark’s Grebes Return to Northern Utah
I always enjoy when the Clark's Grebes return to northern Utah and hope that this year I will be able to photograph their weed ceremony or them rushing.
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.
Female Belted Kingfisher and Her Rattling Call
Yesterday I had my first opportunity to photograph a nearby female Belted Kingfisher in Salt Lake County, Utah and I had fun getting to know her.
Five O’clock Great-tailed Grackle Cacophony
Since the freezing temperatures arrived in my neighborhood I have been listening to a five o'clock Great-tailed Grackle cacophony nightly.
Immature White-crowned Sparrow molting to adult plumage
My post today is an image of an immature White-crowned Sparrow molting into adult plumage and two images showing a juvenile and an adult for comparison.
Canvasback drake on a frigid February morning
When I came across the Canvasback drake on a frigid February morning at a pond near where I live I simply had to get a few images of him.
Common Merganser Drakes in the Winter
I haven't posted any Common Mergansers lately and today I thought I would because we should start seeing them soon here in northern Utah.
Wintertime and Pied-billed Grebes
With the forecast of possible snow this week I've been thinking about how much fun it can be to photograph Pied-billed Grebes in the wintertime again.
Drake Mallards in Breeding and Eclipse Plumage
Yesterday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I was able to photograph a Mallard drake as it lifted off from the water on the south side of the auto tour loop.
Addressing A Strange Comment
Anyone who has worked on their own web site that allows comments knows that there are times you get a strange comment that make you scratch your head.
Redhead Ducks in Salt Lake County
Last February; when there was actually snow on the ground, I photographed a pair of Redhead ducks at a pond near where I live.
One serious looking Coot
Yes, I am being slightly anthropomorphic but this is one serious looking Coot.
An American Coot munching on food
American Coots are common birds and some folks might find them fairly plain but I like them and enjoy photographing them too.
American White Pelican stretching
The caruncle or horn is a growth on the bill of American White Pelicans that occurs yearly during the breeding season.
Head angles – Less than perfect head angles can be compelling
I believe that even without what some may consider "the perfect head angle" that we can create interesting and compelling avian images.
Slew of Old Coots
"Crazy Old Coot" is a term that many of us know and associate with a foolish person, especially an old man.
As Spring Approaches
As Spring Approaches it is a Great Time to be a Bird Photographer in Utah!
Taking a Gander at mating Canada Geese
Officially it isn't spring yet but the Canada Geese here in the Salt Lake Valley don't seem to be paying much attention to our human calendars at all and have begun their mating season.
Comparing American White Pelicans to Brown Pelicans
The recent arrival of American White Pelicans to the Salt Lake Valley started me thinking about the differences between Brown Pelicans and American White Pelicans.
White Gyrfalcon – Yet another escaped falconry bird!
In the four and a half years I have been in Utah I have seen and photographed four escaped falconry birds, one in 2009, two in 2012 and yesterday I photographed another one, an escaped White Gyrfalcon.