Pic of the Day

Common Tern, Sterna hirundo; Bear River Migratory Bird Sanctuary

     While I was photographing Western and Clark’s Grebe at the Bear River Migratory Bird Sanctuary a Common Tern flew over and hovered right in front of me.  I quickly swung the camera onto the tern, made an exposure adjustment, and got a couple of shots before it zipped out of frame.  Fortunately I captured the wings in just the right position.

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1250 second @ f8

Pic of the Day

Eastern Kingbird: Tyrannus tyrannus
Bear River Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Bird on a Wire…..

     This Eastern Kingbird was photographed at the Bear River Migratory Bird Sanctuary near Brigham, Utah.  Bear River is one of my favorite places to shoot.   Kingbirds, both western and eastern, line the fences along the county road that leads to the refuge entrance.  They are very shy, and it took many attempts to get close enough for a photo.   I used my van as a blind. It took lots of patience to get this shot.

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/800 second @ f4, Window Mount

Pic of the Day

Long-billed Curlew, Numenius americanus:

Bear River Bird Migratory Bird Sanctuary; Brigham, Utah 

Nikon D800, Nikkor 300mm f2.8, 1/2000 sec. @ f8, hand-held panning with subject.

Pic of the Day

American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana:  Bear River Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Utah 

    This group of American avocets was loafing near the west side of the autoloop at the Bear River Bird Sanctuary, preening feathers and stretching.  The sun was low on the horizon bathing the birds in a beautiful warm light intensifying the avocet’s rusty colored head and neck.

     I shot numerous images of the birds, but they were constantly moving.  When seven of the birds had their heads up, one would have its head tucked under a wing.  Shot after shot, at least one of the bird’s head was hidden, or turned away from the camera.  Finally, after what seemed forever, the image came together as the birds formed a pleasing composition with a mixture of birds facing right and left.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500 f4,  1/640^th second @ f13

Pic of the Day

     Western Grebe, (Aechmophorus occidentalis) – Bear River Migratory Bird Sanctuary; Brigham, Utah:  The Clark's Grebe (previous post) and Western Grebe were once thought to be the same species.  It is easy to see why there was such confusion, as both birds do look very much alike, and they are often found together on western marshes.  The Clark’s was separated from the Western Grebe in the 1980’s.

     From the time they are hatched until they are almost full-grown, grebe chicks ride on the backs of their parents.  I found this chick hitching a ride on one parent as the other fished, and occasional fed the hitchhiker.  After shooting for a while, I was able to capture these intimate moments between the chick and its parent. 

Top Image:  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1,250 sec. @ f6.3

Bottom Image:  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1,600 sec. @ f7.1

Pic of the Day

     White Pelican,  Pelecanus erythrorhynchos – Bear River Migratory Bird Sanctuary; Brigham, Utah:  I saw my first white pelican in Everglades National Park in March, 1979. In the early morning pre dawn hour the pelicans began to take flight two and three at a time and began to form a large flock in the sky.  As the first birds rose they began to circle, rotating and spiraling higher and higher into the sky.  As more birds took flight the flock grew to more than a hundred birds.  As the morning air heats the pelicans continue to ride the thermals, once high enough they soared off to various areas to feed.  It was an amazing sight to see.  I have never forgot that moment and perhaps that is why I am always so thrilled to see these giants.
     White pelican nest from Utah, north to Northwest Territory, but come fall, they head south and winter from Texas, east to Florida.  The whites are huge, out sizing the familiar brown pelican by as much as a foot in length and two feet in wingspan.  Every time I see a white pelican I am awed by their size. 

     Unlike the brown pelican that flies over the water and dives to catch its prey, the white pelican gathers in flocks and work together on their feeding grounds.  The birds form a buffer line and herd their prey into shallow water where they scoop them up.  This group of white pelicans was doing just that. I found this flock while driving around the amazing Bear River Migratory Bird Sanctuary just east of Brigham, Utah.  The image was shot late in the day as   the setting sun turned the mountains a beautiful magenta that reflected in the water.  The colorful setting provided the perfect backdrop for the white pelicans.

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1,600 sec. @ f9