Western Grebes “Rushing”
I’ve found the rushing behavior of Western Grebes to be one of the more difficult bird photography challenges of all. First of all you have to be there when it happens and I’ve only seen it a handful of times.
Tag: bear river migratory bird refuge
Extremes In Fish Size White Pelicans Will Attempt To Eat
American White Pelicans eat fish almost exclusively and the size range of fish they’ll attempt to swallow can be extreme. If they show poor judgment they can get into serious trouble.
This Is Why They’re Called “Stilts”
If you thought that stilts have the longest legs relative to body size of all bird species you’d be wrong. But not by much. That distinction belongs to flamingos but stilts come in a close second.
Bird Banding – A Necessary Evil?
For the first six years of my bird photography “career” I rarely encountered banded birds but in the last two years or so I encounter them regularly, some species more than others. Usually when I see a bird with bands or transmitters strapped to their backs I don’t even click the shutter except for documentation purposes.
Western And Clark’s Grebes – A Comparison
Western Grebes and Clark’s Grebes are so similar in plumage patterns and behaviors that until 1985 they were considered to be color phases of the same species – the Western Grebe. In fact they’re similar enough that many observers never even recognize Clark’s Grebes when they see them and assume that they’re the more common Western Grebe.
Great Blue Heron In Flight (and working on prejudices…)
I have a confession to make and it involves a long-held prejudice I’ve had in the past against images of Great Blue Herons.
Western Kingbird With A Serious Eye Problem
Whenever I get an up-close look at a bird in the wild through my lens it’s always my subconscious expectation that it will be vigorous and healthy. It disturbs me when that doesn’t turn out to be the case.
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.
Pelicans And A Fish Too Big To Swallow – Part 1
Singing Male Marsh Wren
For me, male Marsh Wrens in springtime epitomize the word “frenzied” as they flit from cattail to cattail defending nesting territory, attracting and mating with multiple females and building many “dummy” nests. And their singing is almost constant.
Avocet Mating Rituals
Mating behaviors of American Avocets are complex, ritualized, predictable and quite fascinating.
Cormorant On Golden Pond
The Double-crested Cormorant is a common species throughout most of the continental U.S. but its namesake “double crest” is seldom seen well.
Cliff Swallow In Flight
Swallow flight shots may be my most challenging subject overall. Their flight patterns are fast and erratic and it’s very difficult to get light under their wings.
Western Grebe Back-brooded Chicks (and what’s the function of that red crown patch?)
A trio of Western Grebe chicks on the back of a parent can certainly be eye-catching. And in this case they piqued my curiosity.
My Love-Hate Relationship With Phragmites
I have a complicated relationship with Phragmites. Though some strains are native to North America, much more vigorous invasive varieties from Eurasia haven taken over many of our wetlands and proven to be extremely difficult to control. Dense “reed stands” of Phragmites with their dramatic seed plumes waving in the breeze can be strikingly beautiful but they’re a huge problem in our wetlands.
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Extremes In Fish Size White Pelicans Will Attempt To Eat
American White Pelicans eat fish almost exclusively and the size range of fish they’ll attempt to swallow can be extreme. If they show poor judgment they can get into serious trouble.
This Is Why They’re Called “Stilts”
If you thought that stilts have the longest legs relative to body size of all bird species you’d be wrong. But not by much. That distinction belongs to flamingos but stilts come in a close second.
Bird Banding – A Necessary Evil?
For the first six years of my bird photography “career” I rarely encountered banded birds but in the last two years or so I encounter them regularly, some species more than others. Usually when I see a bird with bands or transmitters strapped to their backs I don’t even click the shutter except for documentation purposes.
Western And Clark’s Grebes – A Comparison
Western Grebes and Clark’s Grebes are so similar in plumage patterns and behaviors that until 1985 they were considered to be color phases of the same species – the Western Grebe. In fact they’re similar enough that many observers never even recognize Clark’s Grebes when they see them and assume that they’re the more common Western Grebe.
Great Blue Heron In Flight (and working on prejudices…)
I have a confession to make and it involves a long-held prejudice I’ve had in the past against images of Great Blue Herons.
Western Kingbird With A Serious Eye Problem
Whenever I get an up-close look at a bird in the wild through my lens it’s always my subconscious expectation that it will be vigorous and healthy. It disturbs me when that doesn’t turn out to be the case.
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.
Pelicans And A Fish Too Big To Swallow – Part 1
Singing Male Marsh Wren
For me, male Marsh Wrens in springtime epitomize the word “frenzied” as they flit from cattail to cattail defending nesting territory, attracting and mating with multiple females and building many “dummy” nests. And their singing is almost constant.
Avocet Mating Rituals
Mating behaviors of American Avocets are complex, ritualized, predictable and quite fascinating.
Cormorant On Golden Pond
The Double-crested Cormorant is a common species throughout most of the continental U.S. but its namesake “double crest” is seldom seen well.
Cliff Swallow In Flight
Swallow flight shots may be my most challenging subject overall. Their flight patterns are fast and erratic and it’s very difficult to get light under their wings.
Western Grebe Back-brooded Chicks (and what’s the function of that red crown patch?)
A trio of Western Grebe chicks on the back of a parent can certainly be eye-catching. And in this case they piqued my curiosity.
My Love-Hate Relationship With Phragmites
I have a complicated relationship with Phragmites. Though some strains are native to North America, much more vigorous invasive varieties from Eurasia haven taken over many of our wetlands and proven to be extremely difficult to control. Dense “reed stands” of Phragmites with their dramatic seed plumes waving in the breeze can be strikingly beautiful but they’re a huge problem in our wetlands.