March 2013 Bird of the Month Tundra Swan

Tundra Swan coming in for a landing

The Tundra Swan nests on the Northern Tundras of North America and winters along the coasts of the United States and many winter in the wetlands of the Great Salt Lake. Once the duck hunt is over in Mid January the Tundra Swans start showing up in large numbers at Farmington Bay. Before that they can be seen in large groups on the Great Salt Lake and other areas on the Northern end of Great Salt Lake.

Tundra Swans, Pintails, Canada Geese and Gulls at Farmington Bay

I never saw a Swan in the wild until I started Volunteering at Farmington Bay. The day I took most of these pictures in February of 2008 I had to get out of the house. I had spent 3 days in the hospital with pneumonia, I had been home for a few days and was still weak but feeling better and needed some air and sun. I went out to Farmington Bay and took about 300 pictures of the swans.

Tundra Swans, Green-winged Teal and Pintails

The Swan in the center of the picture is a Bewick's race Tundra Swan. Notice the larger yellow patches on the face. Each year we get one or two Bewick's Swans.

Tundra Swans with Canvasbacks, Pintails and Ring-billed Gulls

Swans at Bear River Bird Refuge 

Time to do something different

I mentioned in a prior post that I had broken my zoom lens, during the several months without a lens I took time to do some drawing. It had been a long time and it was great fun. Here is one of the pictures I drew in the last couple of months. Below is the photo that I used as my model.

I posted some other pictures on our family blog, if anyone is interested. I will continue to practice, I have really enjoyed drawing. 

Eagles and More Eagles

This has been the coldest winter since 1949, cold winters make for great Eagle watching at Farmington Bay.

It's been a long time since I posted, there are several reasons but probably the biggest is I just simply didn't feel inspired to post any thing. I suppose because I have been without a telephoto lens for my camera for several months. That and I worked on a Christmas project in November and December for my grandkids, I will post on that later. I'm back in the saddle now and plan to do more birding and more posting. I hope you enjoy these pictures from my first outing with my new lens.

Eagles roosting in the distance after gorging on carp

Control projects to manage the out of control and destructive carp population in Great Salt Lake Wetland are a great feeding opportunity for wintering Eagles

Gulls and Eagles both opportunistic feeders eating side by side at the carp buffet

Adolescent Bald Eagle

Photogenic Eagles draw hundreds of photographers to Farmington Bay who wait for hours to get the perfect Eagle shot

Plenty of food to go around but still a lot of squabbling over the bits

This and the next picture are my favorite shots of the day

Northern rough-legged Hawk

There were other birds out as well

Northern Harrier feeding on a duck

Common Goldeneye

American Kestrel

Canvasback and Ringneck Ducks

Canvasback and Northern Shoveler Ducks

November 2012 Bird of the Month, Common Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye are common on the Great Salt Lake wetlands during winter. This picture was taken at Kaysville Pond. Kaysville Pond is a great place each winter to see Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Ducks and one of the few places in Northern Utah to see Hooded Merganser. In this picture you can see Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers and Gadwalls.

Common Goldeneye nest in Canadian forests and winter throughout most of the United States. They are abundant at Farmington Bay.

Male common Goldeneyes have blackish iridescent green heads with a white circular patch between the eye and the base of the bill. The breast, sides, belly and patch across the secondaries and secondary wing coverts are white. The back, rump and upper tail coverts are black and the tail is grayish-brown. The bill is black and the legs and feet are yellowish. 

The common goldeneye, like the Barrow's Goldeneye, is named for its brilliant yellow iris. This picture of a pair of Common Goldeneye and a pair of Barrow's goldeneye was taken on the Jordan River in Salt Lake County. Barrow's Goldeneye are uncommon in Utah and this was a great sighting for me.

Female common goldeneyes have chocolate brown heads, a whitish neckband, and speckled gray back and sides. The upper wings are brownish-black with the middle five secondaries colored white. The bill is blackish, becoming yellow near the tip, and the legs and feet are yellowish.

This side by side picture of a male Barrow's Goldeneye and a Common Goldeneye shows the field marks that help identify them. The male Barrow's Goldeneye has an iridescent purple head with a large white crescent on its face while the Common Goldeneye had an iridescent dark green head with a round white mark. Both are in my opinion some of the most beautiful waterfowl.

Common goldeneyes fly in small compact clusters, with their wings making a distinctive whistle at every wing beat.

Common goldeneyes use brackish estuarine and saltwater bays and deep freshwater habitats in the winter and dive to feed on a wide variety of available animal life. They feed on aquatic insects, crustaceans and aquatic plants, that makes the Great Salt Lake a perfect winter habitat for the Common Goldeneye.

October 2012 Bird of the Month, White-faced Ibis

In October from my window at work I watch hundreds of white-faced Ibis flocks pass by flying in formation similar to Canada Geese. White-faced Ibis are abundant around the Great Salt Lake in fact the Great Salt Lake Wetlands are one of the largest breeding areas in North America for White-faced Ibis.

Just what color are White-faced Ibis? It depends on the angle of light you are looking at them. From one angle they look black or dark brown from another angle they are shades of brown purple and green. And why is it called White-faced Ibis. Looking very much like it's eastern cousin the Glossy Ibis which seems a much more fitting name because they are quite glossy. The White-faced Ibis gets its name from the white border around its pink face during the breeding season. The picture above is a good example of both breeding and non breeding markings.

This shot shows the iridescent colors in flight

This picture was taken in late summer, notice the white face is gone. This bird was perched with a group of Black Terns

White-faced Ibis feed in lage flocks in fields, playas and wading in shallow water in marshes. I often see them feeding in fresh plowed field.

White-faced Ibis nest in much of the western United States and winter in Mexico and South America.
White-faced Ibis nest in marshes and are very abundant at Farmington Bay. The latest I have seen White-faced Ibis at Farmington Bay is January, but most have moved on by the end of October.

A beautiful and interesting wading bird the White-faced Ibis is my choice for Bird of the month for October.

Antelope Island, New Life Bird and More

Serendipity, I came to Antelope Island to look for an Oven Bird and White-throated Sparrow that were reported this last week. I did not find those target birds but was thrilled to see my first ever Flammulated Owl thanks to photographer Jack Binch. I had added the Flammulated Owl to my life list a few years ago because on an "Owl Prowl" during the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival a few years ago we did hear one. Now I feel much better about it on my list because now I have actually seen one. Thanks Jack for pointing it out to me. Certainly the highlight of the day.

American Avocets at the Causeway 

Ring-billed Gulls 

Ring-billed Gulls dining at the causeway.

California Gull a Brine Fly feast

Common Raven

Western Meadowlark 

Burrowing Owls
Just before seeing these Burrowing Owls I stopped at the Visitors Center to look for Rock Wrens that are always on the rocks at the rear of the Visitors Center. While changing my lenses I dropped my 300 zoom. It still focuses and take pictures however it will not zoom. so the pictures on this post from here on were taken at 75mm. Guess I better saving my pennies for a new lens. 

Bison were plentiful today

This Coyote was kind enough to pose for me and stay close so I could get several pictures before he had had enough and took off.

I saw several Coyotes today but only this one was close enough to photograph.

Sunflowers and Rabbitbrush were beautiful

Red-tailed Hawk just one of many I saw on the road to the ranch

Another Red-tail

This group of cows and calves took their sweet time crossing the road and I didn't rush them.

I took this though my windshield 

White-crowned Sparrows were abundant over the whole island but I never did see the White-throated Sparrow

Another shot of the Flammulated Owl

Pronghorn Family

Hermit Thrush were everywhere at the Ranch

Pronghorn Doe

Pronghorn and her sister wives

Eared Grebes the one in the center still showing a lot of breeding plumage

Here is a list of birds and more seen today
American Avocet
Black-necked Stilt
California Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Northern Shoveler
Eared Grebe
Brewer's Blackbird
Barn Swallow
Common Raven
Franklin's Gull
Western Meadow Lark
Loggerhead Shrike
Rock Wren
Black-billed Magpie
Burrowing Owl
Red-tailed Hawk
Wilson's Warbler
Cassin's Vireo
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Hermit Thrush
Northern Flicker
Oregon Dark-eyed Junco
Empid Flycatchers
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Redstart
Western Sandpipers and other Peeps, I forgot my scope so today they were just peeps
Long-billed Curlew
California Quail
Other animals
Pronghorn
Bison
Coyote