Chipping Sparrow Collecting Nesting Materials in the Wasatch Mountains
A few weeks ago while up in the Wasatch Mountains I watched and photographed a Chipping Sparrow that was busy collecting nesting materials.
Are Great Blue Herons Breeding at Higher Elevations Due to Climate Change?
I'm wondering now if Great Blue Herons here in Utah might already be adapting to climate change by moving higher up into the mountain valleys and canyons that have suitable food and water supplies to breed and nest.
Chipping Sparrow With Nesting Materials In The Uinta Mountains
While photographing some Pine Siskins that were foraging and gathering nesting materials I caught some movement out of the corner of my eye and spotted a Chipping Sparrow with nesting materials in its bill.
Our Western Kingbirds Have Returned To Northern Utah
I did see a Western Kingbird two days ago but the only photos I have of that bird were taken on a barbed wire fence and I have more of those type of images than I know what to do with and nothing about those images were appealing, unique or all that interesting.
Calling Pied-billed Grebe – It Is Breeding Season For These Grebes
Two days ago I noticed one Pied-billed Grebe carrying vegetation in its bill which I presume it was gathering to build its floating nest at a small pond at Farmington Bay WMA and later on I heard the call of a Pied-billed Grebe, located the grebe and photographed it as it called.
December for Utah and Florida Great Blue Herons – What a Difference
The lives of these Great Blue Herons sure are different when you compare December in Utah to December in Florida.
Clark’s Grebes Rushing in September at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
I was positively amazed to see the Clark's Grebes rushing across the water this late in the year, personally I've never seen them rush past the end of July.
Lark Sparrow with an Ant on Antelope Island
The day I photographed this Lark Sparrow with an ant on the boulder right next to it the light wasn't the best for bird photography but when I reviewed the images and saw the ant I knew I had to keep this photo.
Ospreys of Honeymoon Island State Park
Honeymoon Island State Park in Pinellas County, Florida is a great place to see and photograph nesting Ospreys, not just one or two nests either, there are often quite a few.
American White Pelicans – PeliCam and PeliTrack
American White Pelicans are returning to their breeding grounds in Utah and I have already seen a few of them myself and though I haven't been able to photograph them yet I know I will soon.
Male Horned Lark Territorial Behaviors – Tit-for-tat Chases
The most interesting activities I saw yesterday were territorial behaviors and chases between two male Horned Larks in an open area of the park.
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.
Tree Swallow near Modoc Creek, Idaho
I liked this image of a Tree Swallow near Modoc Creek because of the eye contact, head turn, colors and the pattern of the conifer needles in the background.
Breeding Season for Killdeer at Bear River MBR
It is breeding season for Killdeer at Bear River MBR and for all of Utah.
Marsh Wren Nesting Season Begins Soon
The males will start singing before too long and the Marsh Wren nesting season in Utah will begin.
An adult Burrowing Owl in early spring on Antelope Island
Among those spring migrants that I most look forward to seeing are the Western Burrowing Owls.
Nesting Sage Thrashers – In a Rush to Reproduce
Yesterday I had my first opportunity to photograph a Sage Thrasher with nesting materials in its bill on Antelope Island State Park.
Listening for Willets
I have often written how I long to hear the first Long-billed Curlew in the spring but I feel I should mention that I also anxiously await the first calls of migrating Willets too.
Yellow-headed Blackbird Male Just Before Lift Off
To my delight the mechanical sounding calls of male Yellow-headed Blackbirds buzzed over the marshes of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge yesterday morning.
Return of the Tree Swallows
Not only are Tree Swallows colorful and beautiful they are bug-zapping machines and keep the number of flying insects down.
I’m a real sucker for birds
I will photograph birds big and small, those that are flashy and those that are dull. From rare to common it doesn't matter to me.
Sandhill Crane and a stormy sky
In March of this year I spent several days photographing Sandhill Cranes in southern Utah where the light and the weather could rapidly change.
Willet on a Sagebrush
In the past 10 Days I have shared a Western Meadowlark and a Sage Thrasher perched on Sagebrush and today I am posting a Willet perched on Big Sagebrush.
Red-winged Blackbirds are Courting and Nesting at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
The Red-winged Blackbirds at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge have courting and nest building on their minds now that spring is upon us.
Male Red-winged Blackbird singing on a Mangrove
I don't if this male was successful with the female Red-winged Blackbirds but he sure had me mesmerized with his sleek black feathers and his flashing red, orange and yellow epaulets.
Early Spring Chukar
Some times there is one bird that makes (or perhaps saves) a day, yesterday it was this Chukar for me. I can say I didn't get skunked!
Soon Willets will be arriving in Utah
March is a month when I begin to anticipate the arrival of Willets, I have been listening carefully for them and hoping to catch sight of them along the causeway to Antelope Island any day now.
Rushing Western Grebes at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
I photographed these rushing Western Grebes in early June of this year at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge in Box Elder County.
Lazuli Buntings near the San Rafael River
I have enjoyed photographing Lazuli Buntings (Passerina amoena) near the San Rafael River at the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area. These images were taken in the spring when the males were high on perches singing to attract females.
California Gull With Nesting Material
It was the first time I have been able to photograph a California Gull with nesting material so I was quite pleased.