I often see groups of harriers off in the distance but it’s rare for me to be close enough to photograph two different birds in such a short time span. And this time one of them was an adult male – the elusive “gray ghost”.
Four days ago I had a particularly interesting morning on Antelope Island and thought readers might enjoy a chronological reporting of my experience. Some of these images are better than others but as a group these photos of varying quality document my 2 1/2 hour morning on that wonderful island.
I had some fun with a rather unique Northern Harrier yesterday morning.
They say that bad news comes in threes. Maybe sometimes the good stuff happens in triplets too.
The Rough-legged Hawk is a true arctic species so images of them in a frosty and snowy setting can seem appropriate and appealing.
Depending on conditions snow can seem to be a magic wonderland for birds to frolic in or be a dire threat to their survival.
When food is plentiful raptors take advantage of the situation. Tomorrow things might be different.
For me this image has the stamp of Antelope Island through and through, though others may not recognize it.
By the time early summer rolls around the plumage of many Bald Eagles has taken a beating.
American Kestrels are primarily perch-hunters and they’re quite flexible in their choice of perches.
Thanks to cold temperatures and significant snow, some of the Northern Harriers at Farmington Bay are once again hunting closer to the road.
This bird was kiting in the updrafts as the winds rose when they hit the elevated causeway to Antelope Island.
I haven’t seen a Golden Eagle on Antelope Island for many months but yesterday there were two of them and they seemed like good buddies.
It’s been my Christmas tradition for years to spend part of the morning photographing birds. I usually have the place (wherever it might be) mostly to myself and personally I find communing with nature on Christmas morning to be quite appropriate and fulfilling. And yesterday’s snowstorm was pure delight.
