Eight photos, eight species.
Each of these photos was taken in the past two weeks. None of them will win any photo contests but I think each has something to offer and as a group they should give readers a feeling for the types of birds available to me this time of year here in northern Utah.
All photos are presented in the order they were taken, from newest to oldest, over the last thirteen days. Sorry, I didn’t have time to include image techs.
I’m finally beginning to see Red-tailed Hawks pairing up for the nesting season – they seem just a little late this year and that surprises me. I’ve yet to see many of them actually building nests but on this morning I saw as many as five pairs that had obviously paired up for the breeding season.
These two could have chosen a more attractive perch but it seemed to work just fine for them and both are handsome birds to compensate for it..
I’m not particularly fond of European Starlings but damn they’re stunning birds this time of year.
Western Meadowlarks seem to be everywhere on Antelope Island right now. The problem is, so are people. With so many folks off work because of the coronavirus situation and with the island so close to the densely populated Wasatch Front hordes of humans are visiting the island to take advantage of a close and convenient getaway where they can still practice social distancing.
Blog follower “Stephen” made the following comment on yesterday’s post: “I went to Antelope Island yesterday morning and met a line of cars a half a mile or more long that didn’t move for a half an hour… so I left.”
For that reason I don’t think I’ll be visiting the island again anytime soon, even if it does remain open.
Addendum: See Sterling Sanders’ comment below for a probable explanation for what Stephen experienced.
A sure sign of spring is the appearance of some of our larger rodents such as ground squirrels and this Yellow-bellied Marmot.
I haven’t been able to photograph any ground squirrels (“gophers”) yet but it shouldn’t be long. Judy Gusick shared a post on Facebook yesterday from her brother (I believe). The text to go along with his photos struck a chord in this Montana farm boy’s heart:
- “For some, the heralding of spring is the robin, for others it is the killdeer, for me, it is the first dead gopher on the road. Spring officially arrived for me today on the road from Fort Benton to Highwood. Yay Spring!”
Perhaps you have to have Montana roots to understand. I remember times driving the Chalk Butte Road from our farm to Cut Bank in early spring when the road was literally slippery with road-killed gophers (Richardson’s Ground Squirrels). For this soft-hearted farmer’s son it was typically a squeamish trip that time of year.
I had to include a photo of the Bald Eagles mating on ice, and the voyeuristic magpie, that I didn’t include in my post about them last week.
A Chukar sunning itself on a lichen-encrusted rock on Antelope Island.
This was the first Cinnamon Teal I’ve been able to get close to this spring. When they first arrive they’re jumpy as hell. Normally I wouldn’t even consider posting this image because the duck’s head isn’t quite tack sharp and I don’t like all those bright specular highlights at the base of his bill but I want to use this photo to make a point.
Photos of male Cinnamon Teals taking off from water can be truly spectacular, in part because of their beautiful wing colors. But that type of photo is extremely difficult to capture because they’re so incredibly fast when they take off. But I’ve learned to read behavioral cues in this species that signal imminent takeoff and improve my chances of getting the shot.
The erect head and neck posture we see here and the fact that he stopped swimming are both indicators that he’s thinking very seriously of exploding off the water because he considered the close presence of my pickup as a possible threat. And notice the position of his right foot – perfect for pushing against the water to increase acceleration at takeoff.
But in this case it didn’t happen. Eventually he simply turned around and swam further away.
I’ll close with a potentially spectacular situation that turned out to be a dud (with Dudley as my last name I’ve always resented that term a little…)
This Prairie Falcon allowed me a close approach (especially considering how spooky this species usually is) so I had high hopes for some flight shots soon after takeoff. But in the end it took off away from me as they’re so prone to do. Quality photos of Prairie Falcons in flight don’t come easy so yes, I was highly disappointed.
But it’s all part of the game when it comes to bird photography. As I’ve said many times, “Quality bird photography ain’t easy.”
Ron
I loved this post because of the variety of feathered friends! I understand how frustrating it is to go hiking or shooting, only to have toooo many others in the way. I’ll be so relieved when we get our somewhat germ-free world back. Thanks for the posting
Wonderful shots!
Thanks, Jean.
Yay! Birdpourri! 😁 So much awesome! I would be thrilled to get any of these shots — or even to see all of these different species in the wild.
For the first time ever, I have a nit to pick — eight photos, but NINE species — poor little Peeping Magpie. 😂😜
“eight photos, but NINE species — poor little Peeping Magpie”
Damn, you’re right Marty! Thanks for the laugh. I needed it.
Glad I could oblige. 🙂
Eight species, eight great photos and all your other posts in the past two weeks. Despite earthquakes and a pandemic. I’m impressed!
I hope I can keep it up, Lyle. Time will tell.
Your potpourri (all of it) gives the start of my day a delightful scent.
Many, many thanks.
Thank you, EC.
Awesome post today Ron. Thank you for all your hard work. I now feel like Spring is definitely here.
“I now feel like Spring is definitely here”
I just hope we can take advantage of it, Brad.
A pleasing potpourri.
Just my luck, I was looking forward to the fact I had resigned my job and once I was feeling better, be able to go out photographing at will on weekdays without having other photographers. At the same moment I was feeling better most of the state joined me in my seclusion from germs. The first few days the great outdoors had not been discovered, by day 4 there was a marked increase in cars and hikers, week two it is down right congested! I have been watching post from other photographers and even some of the remote areas of the west desert are crowded.
The timing was particularly unfortunate for you, April. You’ve had more than your fair share of bad luck lately.
Shhhh……….Don’t call down the gods.
Great post Ron. All of your posts are especially refreshing these days with all that’s going on in the world. But, that headline, is it the birder bias or the Montana farm boy upbringing that has “Birds” capitalized but the marmot relegated to parentheses as a “critter”? 🙂 Is critter just a synonym for certain mammals or animals in general. I would argue that birds are critters too. As an immigrant, some words took some getting used to for me, and that was one of them, but now my students get a kick out of hearing me using it as naturally as any naturalist who grew up in the western US, albeit (still) with an obvious Irish accent. Keep up the great work and stay safe.
“I would argue that birds are critters too”
Patrick, I thought about that somewhat arbitrary distinction when I was writing my post. But in the end I figured that most readers consider critters to be animals other than birds so I went the way I did.
Critter isn’t capitalized in my title because it’s part of what’s in parentheses.
The starlings are pretty in the sunlight.
Yup.
I love potpourri days, but you ALMOST fooled me with the starling that headlined your FB post! I ALMOST didn’t look because pretty as they are, starlings are at the bottom of my favorite birds list, down with hawk food 😉 But then you redeemed yourself beginning with redtaiils, who sit at the top of that list! From there, what a delightful panorama! Thank you!
Historically, my harbinger of spring has been the arrival of robins. I grew up in Ohio where their arrival literally meant we were going to survive another winter. I need to readjust that here in Arizona! LOL!
I’m so sorry your favorite area is inundated with humans. For me, that’s not good news given that it’s breeding season and so many species can be disturbed!
Laura, I almost didn’t make that starling photo my featured image on Facebook because I figured it might put some people off. I have to keep reminding myself that it’s not their fault they’re here.
Especially like the Prairie Falcon take off. As you say – very hard to get good in flight photos of them. They are fast and can twist and turn so quickly. Like all the photos and appreciate your including them. It is spring indeed. Saw our first returning Common Black Hawk yesterday.
Thanks, Everett. In 13 years I’ve only had one opportunity with a Common Black Hawk and wouldn’t you know it – my lens was malfunctioning at the time so my photos were soft. I actually had to send it in to Canon for repair.
They are called “Common”, but to the best of my knowledge we only have one pair here living in our Watson Lake riparian area. One funny note about them. One day I was taking photos of one down below where I was standing on a trail. Two men who were walking by asked me what I was doing. I explained that I was taking photos of a Black Hawk and pointed it out. One guy argued that it was a Raven. I told him that no, it is a Common Black Hawk. The other guy chipped in that he also thought it was a Raven. I finally convinced them that it was a Black Hawk. Both said they had not ever seen one. I had been so occupied by our discussion that I realized I failed to notice that the second guy had a Chicago Blackhawks shirt on. Then while laughing at the situation I really lit into this guy who is a Blackhawks fan, but has never seen one nor even seemed to believe there was such a bird.
Interesting story about the hockey fan, Everett. Makes me wonder if some Pittsburg Penguins fans either think penguins don’t exist or they’re found in Pennsylvania… 🙂
Great shots Ron. As much as I hate the starlings, they sure are pretty. Even if I don’t get any great shots of the meadowlarks on the island just hearing their song makes my day. Don’t let Stephens long wait to get on the island discourage you from going there. The park had it’s annual mule deer shed hunt on Monday and Tuesday. There isn’t anyone at the entrance to take your entry payment so each visitor has to put there fee in an envelope which makes for a very long line waiting their turn. As early as you go out this shouldn’t be a problem.
I wondered if it was the shed hunt!
In fact I was going to look it up before I published this post but with all the work of getting it ready to publish I just forgot. Thanks, Sterling.
NICE! Yes, spring is coming…… Robins/Killdeer/Northern Flickers/Starlings are here. Yes, Mike is my youngest brother. He and one of my younger sisters, Jannett, got me going in photography other than point and shoot…… 😉
Good for both Mike and Jannett!
Always amazes me the difference between the red-tails here in Mass, and your example shown today. Yours are much darker than any I’ve ever seen.
Great shots as always!
Thanks, Bernie. We have the lighter ones too. The red-tails in my photos appear darker and a little redder than usual because the morning light was very warm.
It cheered me to see such a variety of animals this morning ! Thanks.
Good. Cheeriness is always a good thing but especially now.