An American Coot On Patrol
When I notice an American Coot exhibiting patrolling behavior I will often aim my lens at them because there could possibly be a chase or fight within seconds.
Winter American Coot Close Up
When the American Coots come close to me I am also able to take portraits of them that show their red eyes and their ivory colored bills with their reddish-brown frontal shields.
Ice Skating American Coot
I especially enjoy watching American Coots in winter when they try to use their large greenish feet to walk on ice because that can be rather comical and I love to laugh.
Adult American Coot With A Dirty Bill
An American Coot with a dirty bill wasn't shy at all when it climbed out of the pond close enough for me to take portraits of it.
Focusing On A Feeding American Coot
At home when I could see the photos I had taken on a much larger screen I nearly choked on my laughter when I saw this image of the coot vigorously shaking its food
Resting Great Blue Heron With American Coots At The Local Pond
This photo of a resting Great Blue Heron with American Coots was taken yesterday afternoon when the sun was shining on the same shoreline of my local pond as one of the photos I shared here on my blog yesterday.
American Coots & Canada Geese In A Winter Snow Storm
Neither of these images will knock anyone's socks off but for me they show these coots and geese in the snow storm and the harsh conditions they live in, just birds being birds.
American Coot Running Across Water – Small In Frame
I kept hoping that this running American Coot would become airborne but my hopes were dashed because it stopped short of taking flight.
Some Of The Joys Of Photographing Birds Close To Home
I spent some time at one of the local ponds yesterday afternoon and came home with photos that made me smile and for a little while I forgot about the long hours I spent getting skunked on the road earlier in the day.
Charging American Coot Portrait – Communicating By Posture
I photographed this American Coot in February when parts of my local pond were frozen which caused a restriction in the space where the coots, ducks, geese and grebes could feed and there were many territorial squabbles to photograph.
Photographing An American Coot’s Post Bathing Behavior
Perhaps I am easy to please but I got a real kick out of photographing this American Coot while it bathed, shook and fluffed on the pond close to home.
Surprise Peregrine Falcon With Prey On A Brisk Winter Morning
Finding and photographing the surprise Peregrine Falcon with prey was one of the brightest spots of my day.
Coots, Coots and More Coots
The last birds I photographed in 2017 were American Coots and some of the first birds I took photos of in 2018 were also coots.
Photographing a Bathing American Coot – TC On or TC Off?
I opted to leave my teleconverter on while photographing this bathing American Coot
Feisty, Pugnacious And Aggressive – Why I Enjoy Photographing American Coots
While observing American Coots I can see that they are feisty, pugnacious and aggressive in their behaviors and they don't seem to take any guff from each other.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Fall Colors on the Refuge Plus a Unique Forster’s Tern Experience
There were birds that I photographed including this Yellow-rumped Warbler who perched out in the open with the fall colors of curly docks in the background.
I Stop For Coots Any Time I See Them
I've written before that I love American Coots and I guess that will never change, I will stop for coots any time I see them, I will photograph them and enjoy their antics.
American Coot Chick and Adult at Bear River MBR
People usually think of American Coot chicks as either cute or ugly, I'm in the cute camp when it comes to these chicks.
Spring Means Nesting Birds and Chicks – Please Give Them Space
Why? Because the image is never as important as the well being and safety of my subject, especially when it comes to nests and chicks.
Double-crested Cormorant and American Coot in a Snow Storm
It was my photos of a Double-crested Cormorant and American Coot in the snow storm that touched me the most even though both birds are small in the frame.
Comparing Common Gallinules and American Coots
Common Gallinules and American Coots are both from the Rallidae family and there are some similarities in their appearance, for instance both have a triangular bill with a frontal shield at the top.
American Coot Chase – Aggressive Territorial Behavior
American Coots are quarrelsome birds and they are quick to give chase whether it is over food or territory and they will fight, sometimes even to death, for both.
American Coot Being Chased By Mallards For Food
Early in January I photographed an American Coot being chased by two Mallards for the food it carried in its bill.
Winter American Coot Portrait
When the birds settled back down on the pond this American Coot walked up onto the shore with the open water behind it and I couldn't resist taking portraits of it.
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.
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.
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.
American Coot running on water
About two weeks ago I photographed this American Coot running on water at Farmington Bay WMA.
A Few Birds From Yesterday At Farmington Bay
The light was beautiful yesterday morning at Farmington Bay WMA and I was able to photograph a few species if birds including this juvenile Northern Harrier flying over the marsh.
They Might Be Common But I Love Coots
Both American Coots and Western Grebes have fascinating red eyes, interesting bills and black & white plumage.