wetlands

Drake Common Goldeneyes In Winter

By |February 27th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Common Goldeneyes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I took this photo of two drake Common Goldeneyes at Bear River MBR almost two years ago, I was laughing as I hit my shutter button. I couldn't help myself.

Winter White-crowned Sparrow Portrait

By |February 26th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, White-crowned Sparrows|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I haven't seen as many sparrows this winter as I typically do, so I was tickled to take a few White-crowned Sparrow portraits at Farmington Bay WMA on Friday.

My First Of Year Sandhill Crane

By |February 25th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I was at Farmington Bay WMA two days ago, I heard and saw my first Sandhill Crane of the year. The calling crane was in flight, way off in the distance.

Song Sparrow Serenade – Happy Birthday Chris!

By |February 24th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Song Sparrows, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was serenaded by this Song Sparrow yesterday on the rut-filled road at Farmington Bay WMA. It might seem odd, but this bird reminded me of my youngest son.

Tundra Swan – Trumpeter Swan Comparison

By |February 21st, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Bird ID, Birds, Box Elder County, Trumpeter Swans, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I hope this comparison helps anyone who might be struggling with Trumpeter Swan and Tundra Swan identification in the field or when they are looking at their own photos.

My Video With A Surprise Great Blue Heron

By |February 19th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my last trip up to Bear River MBR, I stopped to take a video on the auto tour loop, and a Great Blue Heron surprised me by flying into view over the river.

Young Bald Eagle On The Road

By |February 17th, 2024|Categories: Bald Eagles, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This Bald Eagle photo isn't my best image of this species, and that is alright with me. I took the photo five days ago on the auto tour loop at Bear River MBR.

Canada Geese On The Bear River

By |February 13th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Canada Geese, Utah, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning, at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, I took a short video of Canada Geese in the road while I was on the north side of the auto tour loop.

Tundra Swans And Precious Memories

By |February 7th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Tundra Swans and memories are on my mind this morning. Six years ago, I sat in my Jeep watching hundreds of Tundra Swans at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

Great Blue Heron And Reflection On The Bear River

By |February 3rd, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today, I'm sharing a simple Great Blue Heron photo I took late last month at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I liked the heron's reflection on the Bear River.

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World Wetlands Day And Utah’s Abysmal Protections Of Them

By |February 2nd, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Conservation, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Juab County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today is World Wetlands Day, and we need to protect and preserve our wetlands. Wetlands provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and social benefits.

Seeking Refuge At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |February 1st, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On January 30th, I spent my morning seeking refuge at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Mother Nature supplied the refuge I sought with grand, gorgeous views.

Bald Eagle On A Leaning Post Plus Trees With The Earth Shadow And Belt Of Venus

By |January 31st, 2024|Categories: Bald Eagles, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I was up at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge yesterday, I photographed a Bald Eagle on a leaning post, plus trees with the Earth Shadow and Belt of Venus.

Western Meadowlarks At Farmington Bay WMA

By |January 30th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, Western Meadowlarks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Much like the Great Blue Herons I shared yesterday, the Western Meadowlarks I found at Farmington Bay WMA two days ago were also behaving as if it were spring.

Great Blue Herons At The Farmington Bay WMA Rookery

By |January 29th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Conservation, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning, I was surprised to find Great Blue Herons already at the nests of the rookery at Farmington Bay WMA. There were more than twenty herons.

American Crow Nictitating Membrane Images

By |January 22nd, 2024|Categories: American Crows, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning, I'm sharing three portraits of an American Crow, two of which include the very pale, nearly icy-blue nictitating membrane that these crows have.

I Am Missing This Cooperative Rough-legged Hawk

By |January 9th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Once upon a time, and not so long ago, I could count on seeing this light-morph Rough-legged Hawk at a specific area of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge tour route.

White-faced Ibis Do Overwinter At Bear River MBR

By |January 8th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, White-faced Ibises|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On New Year's Day, I photographed two small flocks of White-faced Ibis at Bear River MBR. It isn't unusual at all for this ibis species to overwinter at the refuge.

Northern Harrier – My First Raptor of 2024

By |January 7th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Northern Harriers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The first raptor I photographed in 2024 was this young male Northern Harrier that I found near the refuge auto tour loop at Bear River MBR on New Year's Day.

American Herring Gull In Flight Close Up

By |January 6th, 2024|Categories: American Herring Gulls, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Golden Eagles, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Three years ago today, I drove the auto tour loop at Bear River MBR alone. One of the birds I photographed that winter morning was this close-up adult Herring Gull in flight.

Winter Great Blue Heron On Thin Bear River Ice – Utah Is On Thin Ice Too

By |January 5th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I photographed this Great Blue Heron almost two years ago, walking gingerly on the thinning ice of the Bear River. I was on my way to the auto tour loop at the refuge when I spotted this heron.

Fun Drake Mallard At Bear River MBR

By |January 4th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Mallards, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On New Year's Day morning, I had fun photographing a drake Mallard from the auto tour loop of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge as he lifted off from the marsh.

Drake Northern Pintail At Bear River MBR On New Year’s Day

By |January 3rd, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Northern Pintails, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was thrilled to find and photograph a handsome drake Northern Pintail out on the auto tour loop of Bear River MBR on New Year's Day morning.

Common Raven – My First Of Year Bird 2024

By |January 2nd, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Common Ravens, Scenics, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

My first bird of the year for 2024 was a Common Raven I found yesterday morning on my way out to the auto tour loop of Bear River MBR.

Why I See More Than A Tree In These Photos

By |December 29th, 2023|Categories: Conservation, Davis County, Environment, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Habitat, Trees, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Both of these photos show the same tree on Goose Egg Island at Farmington Bay WMA. The images were taken in December of 2022 and 2013.

Christmas Day Young Northern Harrier On The Wing

By |December 25th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Northern Harriers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On this Christmas morning, I am sharing a photo of a young female Northern Harrier in flight that I took exactly three years ago at Farmington Bay WMA.

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