Seven photos of six species.
Occasionally I post a collection of recent bird photos that for various reasons don’t quite measure up to standalone status on my blog but collectively I believe they’ll be of interest to my viewers. Those types of blog posts seem to be appreciated by many followers of Feathered Photography and I enjoy the process of winnowing through my recent photos to choose candidates for inclusion.
Each of the following photos was taken in the last 2 1/2 weeks in the Wasatch Mountains, the west desert or at Bear River MBR.
A well-lit juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron in flight with the deeply shaded Promontory Mountains in the background. I like the contrast in lighting.
Speaking of contrast, the contrast between juvenile and adult Black-crowned Night Herons is pretty dramatic. This adult is recovering after losing its balance while hunting in the swampy water.
My first Gray Catbird of the year. I don’t much like the two twigs behind the bird’s head but at least I captured a calling pose.
A Mourning Dove in the west desert. I used to take Mourning Doves pretty much for granted but these days we’re so overrun by invasive Eurasian Collared Doves I appreciate each and every time I get a Mourning Dove in my viewfinder. Especially in a wild and natural setting.
A juvenile (late first year) Swainson’s Hawk in mid-rouse.
A female Wilson’s Phalarope on a grassy island at Bear River MBR. Most of my photos of this species show them in water but this bird had chicks nearby. Somewhere in that grass, four tiny phalarope chicks are hiding.
My first Short-eared Owl in a very long time. If my friend Shane hadn’t spotted this bird I’d have never seen it. It wasn’t close and it was back/side lit but I was probably more excited about seeing this bird than I was about any other bird that entire, long morning.
Of course it reminded me of Galileo. This owl was in roughly the same area where we found Galileo entangled in barbed wire almost exactly eight years ago, so I told Shane the story of finding Galileo and cutting him out of the wire. I even showed Shane the patched barbed wire I’d cut.
Memories…
Ron
Love your Birdpourri posts, Ron! This one’s no exception. I think I’m almost as excited as you are to see a Shortie. I still think about Galileo often. Thank you for the well-illustrated lesson about aging Black-Crowned Night Herons.
Any time you want to see Mourning Doves (and Black Phoebes), you’re welcome to come to my house. (I also have a well-stocked liquor cabinet.🥳😉🥃)
Thanks for the invite, Marty. Thankfully, there are pretty good numbers of Mourning Doves around here this year but I’ve never seen a Black Phoebe. And if you’ve got bourbon in that liquor cabinet, that piques my interest too… 🙂
Think I’ll go mix one right now.
Have a couple Bourbons and some nice single-malt Scotches. 🥃
Your Scotches are perfectly safe with me around. Never developed the taste for them.
😂
I think I can see the partial outline and eye of one of the phalalope chicks in the grass almost directly under the tip of the parents bill.
Steven, if you can your eyes are better than mine. But then, most everyone’s are.
I really appreciate these collections – none of which I am ever likely to see in the flesh. Thank you – and fingers crossed this is the morning that my missing comments finally come through again. I learn so much from your commentators as well as yourself.
I sure hope it works for you again, EC. Thank you.
Ron,
“These days we’re so overrun by invasive Eurasian Collared Doves.” All I can say is “Amen, Brother.” This is easily verified in my back yard every day.
Loved the other pics as well.
Thanks, Stephen. I’m seeing more Mourning Doves than I have for several years, but still – there’s far too many of the invasive variety.
Very nice collection. Good to see the shorty! So nice of you to take Shane out and show him your haunts and help with photography, he has a good teacher. I had plans of going up to BRMBR this morning, but had a frustrating night and did not go to bed til 2am. I was not getting up at 4:30 to go anywhere.
Thanks, April. I’m far more likely to see 2 AM as a getting up time rather than a going to bed time. But I’ll admit, 2 AM is at LEAST an hour earlier than I’d prefer. About 4 AM is ideal for me.
Excellent collection. I have a question about the phalarope. You said the chicks were hiding in the grass. Where was the male? In phalaropes it is the male that incubates the eggs and does any brooding of the young. Females are more colorful (like this bird), more aggressive and do the courtship. They also have the higher level of testosterone. The female’s only role is to lay the eggs. She often hangs around but provides no care. Males brood and protect young but don’t feed chicks. The chicks must learn to find food on their own by following the male. They soon become totally independent. The family may stay in the same area and both adults may continue to defend the territory but no other care is provided to the chicks and the female pays less attention to young than males do. I suspect any chicks must be on their own now and just happen to be near the female.
Dan, the male phalarope was there too. I’m aware of the sex-reversal roles phalaropes take in raising chicks but this female was sure sticking close to her presumed family. Not as close as the male though. I’ve posted photos of the male with the 4 chicks here:
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2024/06/15/tiny-wilsons-phalarope-chicks/
This was lovely to see. Made me realize that I’ve stopped looking for joy lately. Thanks for the reminder. The Wilson’s Pharalope is so pretty.
“Made me realize that I’ve stopped looking for joy lately.”
That’s a bid deal, Arwen. And it’s so easy to do with the way things are going these days. I’m happy to know that these photos reminded you to look for beauty and joy, because they are still there.
Love the assortment of birds, of course, but also the assortment of subtle colors – the dove is just beautiful, and the line of little white feather tips creates a lovely pattern on the back of the juvie heron. I always feel like we also have been on your birding trip when you post these.
Thanks, Carolyn. Glad you appreciate the dove.
I enjoyed today’s assortment of birds. Since my sister turned me onto your blog, I started observing the birds I saw when I was out and about. I never appreciated them. Most of the birds around my neighborhood seem to be brown. pigeons, or seagulls. But when I look closer, I can see the various colors especially when they are in flight.You are never too old to learn. Thanks for the education.
Thanks very much, Yuriko. Your comment did my little heart good.
All excellent Ron. Have never seen a Grey Catbird. Really like that sharp photo of the juvenile BCNH. Glad you had some success out there.
Thank you, Everett. Me too.
Thanks! I did enjoy these and found them interesting. I especially like seeing those birds that are not regulars or found at all in So Cal. Makes me want to take a long field trip to Utah.
“Makes me want to take a long field trip to Utah.”
Let me know if that ever happens, Michael. We could make some mischief together.
Deal!
What a stimulating variety of species and poses……I especially liked the one of the catbird–those arcing branches make for a dramatic
setting. The juvenile swainson’s hawk made me chuckle out loud
( looks like he was caught in an eggbeater !) and I’m so glad you
saw and were able to capture the short-eared owl—their faces
enchant me………thanks for a morning treat !
“looks like he was caught in an eggbeater”
Kris, I rarely laugh out loud this early in the morning but that comment made it happen.
Fun series, Ron…. 🙂 The Swainson’s sure was a mess! Stumbling Night Heron fun and, of course, the SE Owl always welcome… 🙂 The Morning Dove’s are successfully competing with the Asian Collered here so far – hope that continues!
Learned Burrowing Owls can mimic a rattle snake to scare off coyotes etc. Watched a Waxwing (Cedar I believe) attack an Asian Collered Dove from the belly side in flight and a young Downey Woodpecker following it’s mother around for food while learning where and how. Fun time of year!
Judy, around here Mourning Doves seem to be making a bit of a comeback. I’m encouraged.
Sounds like there’s lots of avian excitement in your neck of the woods.