Occasionally I post a collection of recent photos that didn’t quite make the cut as standalones on my blog but that I think are good enough, or interesting enough, to see the light of day. All of the following photos were taken in the last two weeks, all but one of them on Antelope Island or in Utah’s west desert.
A Northern Mockingbird singing up a storm on sagebrush. I kept waiting for this presumed male to perform the patented vertical flight display of the species but it never happened. It may have been just a little too early in the season.
Some of the first Turkey Vultures I’ve seen this year. Photo taken soon after sunrise.
A Loggerhead Shrike enjoying an insectivorous breakfast.
A female Burrowing Owl on the mound of her burrow. She wasn’t alone but…
I didn’t have enough depth of field to get both her and her mate in focus. Here I focused on the smaller male.
A wary Killdeer along the edge of a remote gravel road. Based on behavior, I believe this bird had a nest nearby.
A Male Brewer’s Blackbird. A weird bird performing weird behavior on a weird (but natural) perch.
The first Long-billed Curlew in decent light I’ve been able to get close to this season.
One of 3-4 Short-eared Owls I found on a recent morning. This is the only one that was in sidelight, instead of backlight.
A female Red-winged Blackbird in my neighbor’s snowball bush.
A Red-tailed Hawk letting’er fly. As I predicted, the hawk took off almost immediately after pooping but for some reason all of my takeoff and flight shots were soft. In bird photography, shit happens. Literally and metaphorically.
So there you have it – a pretty good representation of the kinds of birds I’ve been seeing and photographing lately. Over the next few weeks, both numbers and varieties of birds should increase. I’m looking forward to it.
Ron
You always make my day a little brighter.
Your photos make my day, my favorite posting of lots of different species is always my fav. Your photos are so perfect and clear. The Curlew was eye-catching.
Birdpourri! Love them all — especially my beloved Turkey Vultures! And the weirdo Brewer’s Blackbird. And. And. And!
Marty, I actually thought of you when I was choosing which Turkey Vulture photo to post. “Which one would Marty like?”
Answer: All of them!
All great shots – but I saw no red on most of those that had a “red” in their name. I must be missing something. Keep up the good work.
As you know – I don’t know much about all these birds – but have enjoyed the journey and beautiful birds on your blog. THANKS!
“I must be missing something.”
You are, Judy but it’s easy to do – especially when I make certain assumptions. I’ll try to explain.
In Red-winged Blackbirds, only adult males show red in the wings. This bird is a female so there’s no red in her wings and besides, we can’t see her wings very well anyway.
In Red-tailed Hawks only adults (of both sexes) have red tails and the red is only on the dorsal (top) side of the tail. But this bird is immature (light eyes instead of dark eyes) so its tail isn’t red. Not yet.
I like that you’re curious enough to pose the implied question, so I thought I’d try to clear it up. Just like you used to do with me when I was trying to absorb cooking tips when I used to sit in on your home ec classes at South High. Those were good times.
And by the way, I’m STILL using that cookbook you wrote that you gave me (the first one) more than 45 years ago. I used it just the other night for Sloppy Joes. I regularly use other recipes from it too. Like egg foo young. Ham fried rice….
I’m always up for a good Sloppy Joe recipe, if Judy would be willing to share. There were a few meals that I remember especially fondly from elementary school. Our district made some of the best Sloppy Joes I’ve ever had.
How I love your bird pourri. And would be over the moon to see any of these pieces of feathered enchantment.
Thanks very much, EC.
A fun potpourri of birds. Really like the Long-billed Curlew. A few birds as we know are named long or short billed, but none are as pronounced and obvious as the Curlew who really has THE long bill.
Everett, I sometimes think of curlews as the Pinocchios of the bird world. I know, it isn’t quite apropos, but it works for me.
Works for me too Ron – came back for a 2nd look and glad I did because I wanted to add that your photo of the female Red-winged BB is outstanding. On of our more ignored birds out there, but your photo is one of the best I have seen. Excellent.
We get large flocks of them and then in the winter they separate male and female until they come back together in the spring to mate and nest.
Oh, and sometimes they will be joined by smaller groups of Yellow-headed BB.
I like them all !!!
Good. Thanks, Mary.
A beautiful collection. The Vultures are especially lovely. Yesterday, I saw a couple of them munching on something in one of our local hayfields, and their red heads were so bright. It’s neat to be able to study them closely in the photo.
The kildeer does look a bit worried – somehow the eye size/expression seems different than the other birds.
“somehow the eye size/expression seems different than the other birds.”
I think it’s their red eye ring, Carolyn. Pretty distinctive.
Lovely images. Loved the “weird” Brewer’s black bird! Michael nailed the analysis.
Thank you, Brett. Michael often nails it.
As I scrolled through your wonderfully varied captures this morning,
I kept thinking of that old compliment that someone is in “fine feather”
—most especially about the turkey vultures, who are looking downright “velvety”. ALL of the birds you’ve displayed this morning are looking exceptionally fresh ! Maybe birds’ new spring attire
inspired that old tradition of humans acquiring new clothes ( and hats)
for easter ?
“ALL of the birds you’ve displayed this morning are looking exceptionally fresh.”
It’s that time of year, isn’t it Kris.
I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re right about Easter.
Lovely collection of the “miscellaneous”, Ron.
Brewer’s IS weird. 
Curlews are ALWAYS a pleasure for me to see as are any owls. 
Thanks, Judy. Brewer’s are kinda strange in several ways.
Agree with Michael. That Brewer’s shot is compelling. Are those tree roots?
I was afraid someone would ask that question, Kathleen.
To be perfectly honest I’m not sure what they are, at least not precisely. I was concentrating so much on the bird I didn’t pay much attention to the perch at the time. Next time I go to the island I’ll look more carefully.
Thanks Ron. Enjoyed them all. Kept going back to that Brewer’s shot. Everything about it, behaviorally and artistically, is compellingly curious. The kind of bird photo David Lynch would have on the wall of his house. I love it.
“Everything about it, behaviorally and artistically, is compellingly curious.”
Michael, I actually chose that Brewer’s photo, out of all of them, as my featured photo on Facebook, although I had a hard time figuring out why I chose it. You explained it better than I could have.
Nice photos! Thanks once again for my morning bird photography fix. I think a lot of them are really special pictures!
I’m glad you think so, Joanne. Some of them turned out better than I thought they would.