San Rafael River

Lazuli Buntings near the San Rafael River

By Mia McPherson|September 26th, 2012|Categories: Birds, Lazuli Buntings, San Rafael Swell area, Utah|Tags: adult, breeding season, bunting, buntings, Castle Country, desert, Emery County, Entrada Sandstone, Greasewood, Lazuli Bunting, male, Navajo sandstone, oasis, Passerina amoena, perched, San Rafael River, Sarcobatus vermiculatus|

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.

Juvenile Common Raven

By Mia McPherson|June 3rd, 2012|Categories: Birds, Common Ravens, Emery County, San Rafael Swell area, Utah|Tags: Common Raven, corvids, Corvus corax, Greasewood, immature, juvenile, raven, ravens, San Rafael River, San Rafael Swell, young|

This bird is easily identifiable as a juvenile Common Raven because of the short tail, the pink on the gape and the violet-blue eyes.