The Function of Ocelli (false eyes) In Raptors
Some falcons, hawks and owls have two ocelli (eye-like patches or “false eyes”) on the back of their head. Their function may not be as presumed.
Category: Feeding
Barn Owl Hunting Rodents
I typically go about 10 months of the year without seeing Barn Owls flying in daylight but when snow and extremely cold temperatures arrive they’re often forced to hunt during daytime in order to obtain enough food to survive.
A Couple Of Recent Juncos
Dark-eyed Juncos are a common winter feeder species but I prefer to photograph them in as natural a setting as possible.
Forster’s Tern With Prey And A Common Black-Hawk In Utah!
Today, readers get a “twofer”: a Forster’s Tern with prey and a rare Common Black-hawk.
Another Grebe Biting Off More Than It Can Chew
It isn’t unusual for some bird species to regularly attempt to swallow prey that is too large to go down the hatch. I see American White Pelicans and Great Blue Herons make such attempts fairly often but around here Pied-billed Grebes and Western Grebes seem to be the kings of Gluttony Hill.
Montana Merlin In The Fog
Last month I posted a few images of this Merlin in the fog. For subtle reasons this may be my favorite from the entire session with the bird.
White-crowned Sparrow Attempting To Feed In The Wind
I photographed this adult White-crowned Sparrow near a campground at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge last month as it tried to feed on berries in a stiff breeze.
Swainson’s Hawk Face-plant Into Rabbitbrush
Sometimes raptors risk serious injury as they go after prey – especially to their eyes.
Red-tailed Hawk With Prey
I photographed this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk yesterday morning near Farmington Bay as it prepared to eat a vole it had just caught.
Note: Fair warning – the second photo in this sequence is slightly graphic so sensitive folks may want to avoid scrolling further than the first image.
Merlin With Prey In Approaching Fog
On our recent Montana trip I spent two morning sessions with a cooperative Merlin at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in the Centennial Valley.
Williamson’s Sapsuckers – The Changing Of The Guard
The Williamson’s Sapsuckers I photographed earlier this summer had a routine while they were feeding their chicks and I presume it went on all day long. And often a feisty pair of wrens made that routine more complicated.
White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hummingbird Moth)
In the four recent mornings I’ve spent photographing hummingbirds on Antelope Island I simply couldn’t resist pointing my lens at these large, fascinating insects when they came in to feed on the same flowers as the hummingbirds.
Hummingbird Potpourri
Recently I’ve spent four mornings photographing hummingbirds and sphinx moths as they fed on Rocky Mountain Bee Plant on Antelope Island. This morning I thought I’d present a rather diverse mix of Black-chinned and Rufous Hummingbird images from those sessions.
Some Interesting Poses From A Rufous Hummingbird
Yesterday morning I spent more time with the hummingbirds on Antelope Island. This female Rufous Hummingbird perched close and gave me some interesting poses.
Hummingbirds And The Way I Prefer To Photograph Them
Many photographers use elaborate setups and flash when photographing hummingbirds. I prefer au naturel.
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Barn Owl Hunting Rodents
I typically go about 10 months of the year without seeing Barn Owls flying in daylight but when snow and extremely cold temperatures arrive they’re often forced to hunt during daytime in order to obtain enough food to survive.
A Couple Of Recent Juncos
Dark-eyed Juncos are a common winter feeder species but I prefer to photograph them in as natural a setting as possible.
Forster’s Tern With Prey And A Common Black-Hawk In Utah!
Today, readers get a “twofer”: a Forster’s Tern with prey and a rare Common Black-hawk.
Another Grebe Biting Off More Than It Can Chew
It isn’t unusual for some bird species to regularly attempt to swallow prey that is too large to go down the hatch. I see American White Pelicans and Great Blue Herons make such attempts fairly often but around here Pied-billed Grebes and Western Grebes seem to be the kings of Gluttony Hill.
Montana Merlin In The Fog
Last month I posted a few images of this Merlin in the fog. For subtle reasons this may be my favorite from the entire session with the bird.
White-crowned Sparrow Attempting To Feed In The Wind
I photographed this adult White-crowned Sparrow near a campground at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge last month as it tried to feed on berries in a stiff breeze.
Swainson’s Hawk Face-plant Into Rabbitbrush
Sometimes raptors risk serious injury as they go after prey – especially to their eyes.
Red-tailed Hawk With Prey
I photographed this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk yesterday morning near Farmington Bay as it prepared to eat a vole it had just caught.
Note: Fair warning – the second photo in this sequence is slightly graphic so sensitive folks may want to avoid scrolling further than the first image.
Merlin With Prey In Approaching Fog
On our recent Montana trip I spent two morning sessions with a cooperative Merlin at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in the Centennial Valley.
Williamson’s Sapsuckers – The Changing Of The Guard
The Williamson’s Sapsuckers I photographed earlier this summer had a routine while they were feeding their chicks and I presume it went on all day long. And often a feisty pair of wrens made that routine more complicated.
White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hummingbird Moth)
In the four recent mornings I’ve spent photographing hummingbirds on Antelope Island I simply couldn’t resist pointing my lens at these large, fascinating insects when they came in to feed on the same flowers as the hummingbirds.
Hummingbird Potpourri
Recently I’ve spent four mornings photographing hummingbirds and sphinx moths as they fed on Rocky Mountain Bee Plant on Antelope Island. This morning I thought I’d present a rather diverse mix of Black-chinned and Rufous Hummingbird images from those sessions.
Some Interesting Poses From A Rufous Hummingbird
Yesterday morning I spent more time with the hummingbirds on Antelope Island. This female Rufous Hummingbird perched close and gave me some interesting poses.
Hummingbirds And The Way I Prefer To Photograph Them
Many photographers use elaborate setups and flash when photographing hummingbirds. I prefer au naturel.