Short-eared Owl Surveying the Centennial Valley of Montana
The Short-eared Owl was perched on the post and slowly turned its head to look around as if it was surveying the beauty of the valley it had made its home in.
Male Cassin’s Finches Foraging in Beaverhead County, Montana
Two years ago today I was in Beaverhead County, Montana photographing Cassin's Finches foraging on the seeds of dandelions on a morning that had sunshine and plenty of fog.
Lark Sparrow & Loggerhead Shrike in Northern Utah
This beautiful little Lark Sparrow was so busy singing that it was a very cooperative subject and I took quite a few images of it as it sang and changed positions on the gnarly old fence post.
Song Sparrow In Box Elder County, Utah – Bird Sounds of Spring
I was trying to photograph some Red-tailed Hawks when I heard a song close to me and realized it was a Song Sparrow before I even located the bird and put my lens on it.
Mule Deer leaping over a fence in Box Elder County
I got lucky and the first Mule Deer that leaped over the fence filled my viewfinder and I didn't clip anything.
Centennial Valley Prairie Falcon and a Short-eared Owl Barbed Wire Casualty
I spent some time in the Centennial Valley of Montana yesterday and the best bird of the morning was this adult Prairie Falcon photographed on a cattle chute with a white cloud in the background.
Eastern Kingbird Hawking Insects From A Fence In Northern Utah
Two days ago I was able to photograph an Eastern Kingbird hawking insects from a fence on my way out of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
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.
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.
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.
Short-eared Owl Fledgling Barbed Wire Injury
Right after seeing the adult I also saw a fledgling Short-eared Eared Owl about 8 to 10 feet from the adult hung up on barbed wire.
Red Rock River Cliff Swallow
This Cliff Swallow resting near the Red Rock River was cooperative and gave me the opportunity to photograph it on a strand of barbed wire fencing.
Centennial Valley Eastern Kingbird
Mountain Bluebirds and this Centennial Valley Eastern Kingbird were the first two bird species I photographed on this trip to Montana and Idaho.
Adult Swainson’s Hawk in Golden Light
This image of a Swainson's Hawk in golden light was taken not long after the sun rose and I love how the light seems to make the hawk glow.
Western Kingbird with a Hint of Black Mustard
Yesterday morning while in Box Elder County I was delighted to photograph a Western Kingbird with a Hint of Black Mustard in the background as it perched on a fence near the road.
Juvenile Burrowing Owl Balancing Act
I photographed this juvenile Burrowing Owl balancing act last year in northern Utah not long after the sun came up
Northern Utah Short-eared Owls
Yesterday it was the northern Utah Short-eared Owls that made me so very glad that I am a bird photographer and that for a little while I am part of their world.
Western Wood-Pewee in the Centennial Valley of Montana
Western Wood-Pewees are drab, medium-sized, flycatchers that breed in the open forests and riparian habitats in western North America.
An Adult Sage Thrasher with Prey on Public Land
This adult Sage Thrasher with prey was photographed on public lands in Tooele County in one of the canyons of the Stansbury Mountains last July.
A Tragic Sight To See – A Barn Owl Caught on Barb Wire
Yesterday morning I saw a sight that made me ill to see and that is a Barn Owl hung up on a barb wire fence on the south side of the Centennial Valley.
An Assortment of Birds from Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge This Week
Yesterday I posted a juvenile Wilson's Phalarope and today I am posting an assortment of others birds I photographed the same day at Bear River NWR.
Burrowing Owls and American Robins – Nearly the same size but two very different birds
Burrowing Owls and American Robins are about the same size but they are two very different species of birds.
Morning Spent at a Burrowing Owl Burrow
Last week I posted an image of Burrowing Owl siblings that I found in northern Utah and today I am posting images of that burrow after spending yesterday morning being delighted by them once more.
Cassin’s Finches of the Centennial Valley of Montana
Cassin's Finch males look to me like they have been dipped in raspberry juice and that color is very vibrant especially in sweet light.
Birds on Wires – European Starling
I know a lot of people don't like European Starlings because they are in introduced species that cause lots of problems for native birds.
Western Kingbird juvenile
I don't often have the opportunity to photograph juvenile Western Kingbirds but last week I did at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Box Elder County.
Alaska Basin journey in Montana and Idaho
Earlier this week I was enthralled to see the Alaska Basin that straddles Idaho and Montana and winds through Beaverhead National Forest and Targhee National Forest.
Wired Western Wood-Pewee
I saw several Tyrant Flycatchers on my last trip to Montana, Eastern and Western Kingbirds and a couple of Western Wood-Pewees that were hawking from fence posts and barbed wire along a gravel road.
Sounds of Spring – Western Meadowlark
Normally we have Western Meadowlarks year round here in the Salt Lake Valley but because this past winter was harsh it seemed that they moved south for a bit. They are back now and singing their songs of spring.
Springtime Eastern Kingbird
The scientific name of Eastern Kingbirds is Tyrannus tyrannus, Tyrannus means "tyrant" and they are well named because they will harass any bird that comes near their nests including crows, ravens and much larger birds like hawks.