Antelope Island State Park is another of my favorite locations for bird and wildlife photography plus the scenery is incredibly beautiful at any time of the year. Although the park is about 41 miles from Salt Lake City it has retained its wild and wonderful character.
For today's Friday Photos I am mixing it up a bit and posting images of Pronghorns, a Black-crowned Night Heron, a Long-tailed Weasel and an American Kestrel. Please enjoy!
Last week I posted some fun images of a Coyote with Falcon leftovers taken along the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake with piles of ice in the background. Six days later, on January 1st, I had more fun with a Coyote in almost the same location.
I had a marvelous photographic experience with Coyote with falcon leftovers along the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake last week.
Last week while out photographing I spotted a Prairie Falcon in the midst of a tussle with two Common Ravens in mid air. At times it seemed that the falcon was chasing the ravens and then the tables would turn and it appeared that the ravens were diving at the falcon.
Today I had the pleasure of photographing with not just one but two wonderful friends and fellow photographers. To be sure they are much more "fellow" than I am but I don't hold that against them.
To those hunters who recognized and respected the rarity of those beautiful and very uncommon birds, you have my respect and I am personally very grateful that you preferred to give these ducks a pass even though you knew that hunting them was legal.
I used to dream about getting images like this one of Pronghorns when all I had was a simple Point & Shoot camera and I could never get close enough to the pronghorns to achieve my dreams. Now I can.
Last month I spotted this Coyote in the golden light of dawn while it hunted in the grasses on Antelope Island State Park. With light so sweet, how could I resist?
Another wonderful change that I have been seeing is that a variety of duck species have been arriving at the Great Salt Lake
As much as I love going to Antelope Island State Park to photograph birds I also enjoy going there to see and photograph the furry animals that can be found there.
The American Kestrel is our smallest falcon in North America but what they lack in size I feel they make up for in attitude.
I am just happy to have seen the Pronghorn buck with misshapen horns again and for coming home with better photos of it for my files.
Last week I spotted a bird that isn't usually here in Utah this late in migration, a Cackling Goose.
The Black-tailed Jackrabbit arched its back while still keeping an eye on me and I thought the arched back looked very similar to a domestic cat when it gets riled up or frightened about something.
I've spent a few days out on Antelope Island State Park this past week and from all appearances spring is making its debut.
Male American Kestrel in flight with a vole chased off by an appraoching vehicle
Spring seduces me. Refreshes me. It whispers to me softly to come outside and savor nature and wildlife.
This Coyote still has its winter coat but before long it will shed it for the sleeker summer coat.
I felt that I had a real treat being able to photograph this Black-billed Magpie building a nest after a snow.
Yesterday I was tickled to spot not just one but a pair of coyotes on the causeway going to Antelope Island State Park
This is a second year Bald Eagle, and while the adult birds are probably the most photographed, I enjoy photographing all ages & phases of plumage of bald eagles.
Today was a good day, I finally took some images of a Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor) that weren't taken from too far away.
What I like about this image is the pose of the Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), the warm tones of the background, the detail and colors
This image cracks me up as it reminds me of how in elementary school we would all have to line up for the class picture.
We almost missed this Coyote and had to back up the vehicle to take a few photos. The coyote was laying down on a small hill and at first it barely lifted its head and still appeared to be dozing in the morning sunlight.