Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk in the West Desert
Yesterday I was able to photograph the largest buteo in North America, a gorgeous Ferruginous Hawk that was on top of a hill with the Stansbury Mountains of the West Desert in the background.
Staring, Glaring Swainson’s Hawk
Yesterday morning I photographed this Swainson's Hawk while it perched on a fence post in northern Utah
Swainson’s Hawks Along the Road
There are so many Swainson's Hawks in northern Utah right now, I see them perched, on their nests, hovering over fields and soaring on the thermals after the sun warms up the air.
Windy Day Red-tailed Hawk
I was able to point my lens at this male Red-tailed Hawk on a lichen-covered perch for a few frames before he flew away.
Two Months of Photographing a Cooperative Northern Harrier
There was a very cooperative first spring male Northern Harrier in a location where I photographed Short-eared Owls last year in northern Utah and for two months I could reliably see and photograph it frequently.
Molting One-Year-Old Red-tailed Hawk
I also keep images of birds that look a bit messy because they are molting even if they aren't up to my standards, like this one-year-old Red-tailed Hawk that was rapidly molting the end of July in 2015.
Light Morph Swainson’s Hawk with Different Backgrounds and Distances
I always try to pay attention to what is going on in the background of my photos because by changing distance or angles the same bird, like this Swainson's Hawk, can look very different in my images.
Red-tailed Hawk on a Rocky Perch in Northern Utah
There is nothing special about this photo of a Red-tailed Hawk on a rock perch that I photographed yesterday in northern Utah but I quite like it for its simplicity.
Photographing Swainson’s Hawks in Northern Utah
Yesterday morning in northern Utah I saw about a dozen Swainson's Hawks in about 2.25 miles, some were perched, some were in flight and all of them were wonderful to photograph.
Cooperative Dark Morph Swainson’s Hawk Up Close
I was thrilled and delighted to photograph a very cooperative dark morph Swainson's Hawk up close yesterday morning in northern Utah.
Turkey Vultures at a Corral, Hillside Canada Goose and a Red-tailed Hawk Fly Over
Yesterday morning was bright and sunny and I had fun photographing Turkey Vultures at a corral, a hillside Canada Goose and a Red-tailed Hawk flying over with nesting materials in northern Utah.
My First of Year Swainson’s Hawk and April Snow on Antelope Island
My best find of the day was my first of the year Swainson's Hawk about two thirds of the way down the island perched in some trees near a freshwater spring.
Cinnamon Teal, Short-eared Owl & Red-Tailed Hawk – A Nice Mixture of Birds
It felt great to photograph a nice mixture of birds yesterday and and to be out enjoying the beautiful scenery of northern Utah. Life is good.
Red-tailed Hawks on Cliff Faces
I appreciate it when I can photograph Red-tailed Hawks on Cliff faces well away from the man made objects including power poles and wires, fence posts and barbed wire
Pair of Red-tailed Hawks Mating – A Wild 34 Seconds
What I didn't expect yesterday was that I would be able to photograph the Red-tailed Hawks mating on the lichen-covered outcropping but that is what happened
Foggy Morning Red-tailed Hawks & Turkey Vulture
It wasn't "partly sunny" as predicted but I enjoyed myself while photographing the Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawks on a foggy morning even though it tested my skills and techniques.
Cooper’s Hawk Takes Flight in Northern Utah
The Cooper's Hawk took flight without much warning at all and for a second I lost it while tracking the hawk but regained focus as it flew south past me.
Winter Clashes With Spring – Seasonal Changes Make Bird Photography Interesting
Winter is clashing with spring right now in northern Utah and those seasonal changes can make bird photography interesting.
American White Pelicans, Sandhill Cranes, Swainson’s Hawks – Spring Migrants On The Wing
We still have our winter birds and the spring migrants have begun their journey north so my bird photography is likely to pick up and get exciting soon if the clouds will give me a break.
Immature Rough-legged Hawk With Its Jackrabbit Prey
My best bird of the day was a juvenile Rough-legged Hawk standing on a jackrabbit in the snow that I spotted next to the road.
Rough-legged Hawk, Lichens and Snow
When I photographed this Rough-legged Hawk on a snow and lichen covered rock the light was decent and brought out the colors of the hawk and the orange lichen covering the rocky outcropping it was perched on.
Rough-legged Hawk on a Designated Parking Sign
Many of the birds here in the Salt Lake Valley find a place to roost in the evening and overnight frost begins to accumulate on their feathers like it did on this Rough-legged Hawk on a parking sign.
Photographing a Red-tailed Hawk at Farmington Bay
Almost three years ago today I spent time photographing a Red-tailed Hawk at Farmington Bay that was hunting in a snowy field while using a nest box as a perch to watch for prey.
Funny Rough-legged Hawk – Preserving, Nurturing and Expressing a Sense of Humor
I think this Rough-legged Hawk has read one too many hysterical Tweets lately. I know I have.
Frustrations of Bird Photography at Below Freezing Temps – Heat Waves Suck
Every single image I took yesterday was way softer than they would have been had it not been for those heat waves coming up the side of the pickup. To say I was disappointed is putting it lightly.
First year Red-tailed Hawk Close Up in a Snow Storm
This first year Red-tailed Hawk close up in the snow storm was a reminder of how much our birds and wildlife have to struggle to get through the harsh winter.
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawks – Photographing Raptors Near Interstates
There are natural perches along the access roads right next to the interstate and if I am lucky I can find raptors perched there on occasion too.
Interesting Ferruginous Hawk Horizontal Take Off – It Made Me Laugh
I have to say that when I viewed this image on my monitor of the Ferruginous Hawk taking off from the power pole yesterday that I laughed out loud.
Partially Leucistic Adult Red-tailed Hawk in Flight – A Rare and Wonderful Sight!
When the partially leucistic Red-tailed Hawk lifted off from the power pole I was able to capture photos of it in flight and I was stunned by the beauty of the hawk, pictures do not do this bird justice.
Juvenile Northern Harrier Female in Flight Over Farmington Bay
Yesterday at Farmington Bay I was pleased to photograph this juvenile Northern Harrier female in flight as she went past me while I sat in a mobile blind.