Birds, Bugs And Frustrations On Antelope Island
Antelope Island is crawling (and flying) with “bugs” right now. Mosquitoes are common, flying midges are thick as are the dreaded biting gnats (I call this the “itching and bitching” season).
Category: Favorite Locations
Long-billed Curlew Chick (and the length that bill must grow!)
Because of their somewhat limited breeding range I suspect that many have never seen a Long-billed Curlew chick so I decided to post this little cutie despite the partially obscured view of the bird.
Ratchet pointing, Dip-shaking Western Grebes
Two behaviors indicative of pair bonds between mated pairs of Western (or Clark’s) Grebes are “Ratchet pointing” and “Dip-shaking”. The behaviors are often alternated, one after the other. I photographed both of them as they were performed by a pair of Western Grebes three days ago at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Burrowing Owl On A Boulder Perch
Six days ago on Antelope Island as I rounded a curve in the road I encountered this Burrowing Owl on a large rock with a clean setting and background. It was a cool morning and the sun had only recently come up so this bird was obviously enjoying the warming rays and showed no nervousness as I approached.
Western Grebe Swallowing A Crayfish
Western Grebes are almost exclusively fish-eaters but yesterday morning at Bear River MBR I photographed one consuming a crayfish.
Willet – The Transformation Of An Avian Chameleon
With its wings folded the plump, drab-plumaged Willet is brown and inconspicuous but a remarkable transformation takes place when those wings are opened.
A Badger And Weasel Confrontation On Antelope Island
Yesterday morning we were witness to a tense drama involving a badger and Long-tailed Weasels on Antelope Island. American badgers feed primarily on rodents (ground squirrels, pocket gophers, rats, mice and voles) which they often capture by digging out their burrows – the digging skills of badgers are legendary.
But on this day a close relative was on the menu.
Western Kingbird Feeding Behavior
Yesterday morning was a Western Kingbird bonanza along the Antelope Island causeway.
A Couple Of Coyotes And The Utah Mule Deer Protection Act
Two years ago Utah established the Mule Deer Protection Act which provided $500,000 to pay “hunters” $50 for every coyote they kill.
Sharp-shinned Hawk In Flight On Antelope Island
Bison Calf Getting Breakfast At Its Source
Brewer’s Blackbirds – Male And Female
As common as they are I always enjoy photographing Brewer’s Blackbirds – the male for his iridescence and interesting displays and the female for her subtle beauty.
Short-eared Owl With Prey
Western Grebe With Fish
A Sage Thrasher, A Buffalo Chip And A Little Family History
Most of my photos of Sage Thrashers show them on elevated perches so I appreciate the variety when I can catch one on the ground in a flowery setting.
-
Long-billed Curlew Chick (and the length that bill must grow!)
Because of their somewhat limited breeding range I suspect that many have never seen a Long-billed Curlew chick so I decided to post this little cutie despite the partially obscured view of the bird.
Ratchet pointing, Dip-shaking Western Grebes
Two behaviors indicative of pair bonds between mated pairs of Western (or Clark’s) Grebes are “Ratchet pointing” and “Dip-shaking”. The behaviors are often alternated, one after the other. I photographed both of them as they were performed by a pair of Western Grebes three days ago at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Burrowing Owl On A Boulder Perch
Six days ago on Antelope Island as I rounded a curve in the road I encountered this Burrowing Owl on a large rock with a clean setting and background. It was a cool morning and the sun had only recently come up so this bird was obviously enjoying the warming rays and showed no nervousness as I approached.
Western Grebe Swallowing A Crayfish
Western Grebes are almost exclusively fish-eaters but yesterday morning at Bear River MBR I photographed one consuming a crayfish.
Willet – The Transformation Of An Avian Chameleon
With its wings folded the plump, drab-plumaged Willet is brown and inconspicuous but a remarkable transformation takes place when those wings are opened.
A Badger And Weasel Confrontation On Antelope Island
Yesterday morning we were witness to a tense drama involving a badger and Long-tailed Weasels on Antelope Island. American badgers feed primarily on rodents (ground squirrels, pocket gophers, rats, mice and voles) which they often capture by digging out their burrows – the digging skills of badgers are legendary.
But on this day a close relative was on the menu.
Western Kingbird Feeding Behavior
Yesterday morning was a Western Kingbird bonanza along the Antelope Island causeway.
A Couple Of Coyotes And The Utah Mule Deer Protection Act
Two years ago Utah established the Mule Deer Protection Act which provided $500,000 to pay “hunters” $50 for every coyote they kill.
Sharp-shinned Hawk In Flight On Antelope Island
Bison Calf Getting Breakfast At Its Source
Brewer’s Blackbirds – Male And Female
As common as they are I always enjoy photographing Brewer’s Blackbirds – the male for his iridescence and interesting displays and the female for her subtle beauty.
Short-eared Owl With Prey
Western Grebe With Fish
A Sage Thrasher, A Buffalo Chip And A Little Family History
Most of my photos of Sage Thrashers show them on elevated perches so I appreciate the variety when I can catch one on the ground in a flowery setting.