This month is starting out with record warm weather. I actually plan to drive my MG to a British Motor Club event early this month. I am happy we are not getting the weather the East Coast is experiencing, but I would like a little bit of winter weather. The critters and birds are all behaving as if it is spring. I fear the impact this will have on the eagle opportunities later this month.
I enjoyed an unexpected trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons this month. My friend Ed MacKerrow invited me to tag along on his trip. And my friend Mike Ferrara also joined our little group. That was a real adventure. Northern Yellowstone is having a similar winter to Utah as they also have had very little snow and unusually warm weather. We saw lots of Big Horned Sheep, Bison, Pronghorns, Elk, and wolves at a distance. The Tetons was an entirely different story. They have lots of snow and we saw a low temperature one morning of minus 27 degrees. My diesel truck was struggling with fuel turning into the consistency of jelly and my little propane heater froze up and would not work. Abandoning staying in my little trailer, two nights in a motel room in Jackson Hole seemed prudent. We did not abandon the opportunity to photograph a pair of red Foxes at Colter Bay Marina.
We ended up with very few Eagle opportunities this year. I don’t know if it was just too warm or if this years population is just too far down from the West Nile problem from last year. There is always next year.
We are starting to get normal early spring arrivals so that is good news.
February 28, 2015
Tundra Swans flyby. Farmington Bay WMA, Utah Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 1000.
These guys show up in mass every year at this time. Our weird winter weather did not fool them. American White Pelican, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 1000.
Another early spring arrival. They are usually one of the first arrivals here to announce the coming of spring. Killdeer, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah. Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/1600, f/8, ISO 1000.
I can’t ever pass up an opportunity to photograph one of these guys. This one is showing just a hint of that magnificent orange they display under their wings. Northern Flicker, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah. Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 1000.
February 25, 2015
Green Winged Teal, showing color. Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640.
February 23, 2015
Sometimes the next step you take is pretty important. Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. Yellowstone NP, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 800
OK, you can’t see me, I am hiding behind this tree. Teton NP, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 70-200, 183mm, 1/500, f/6.3, ISO 800
This Red Fox showed off for us today in the Grand Teton NP. She didn’t seem to mind the -22 F. Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 70-200, 183mm, 1/500, f/6.3, ISO 800
This fellow provided a nice view of his antlers. Mule Deer, Near Grand Teton NP, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter. 1/320, f/6.3, ISO 1600
February 20, 2015
Direct from Yellowstone National Park. We had an amazing opportunity on Mountain Big-Horned Sheep. Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/640, f/5.6, ISO 400.
Enjoying the sun. Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep. Yellowstone NP, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter. 1/1250, f/11, ISO 400.
February 17, 2015
Twilight shot against my will. Ed MacKerrow made me do it. But I have to admit, I like the way this one turned out. Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter. 1/250, f/5.6, ISO 2500 (didn’t know it would go that high) Farmington Bay WMA, Utah
February 16, 2015
You may think you are alone, but you are being watched. Coyote, Antelope Island Causeway, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/2500, f/8, ISO 400.
While the males are singing very, very early; I have been told the females are playing coy. They apparently are waiting until Spring really gets here. Clever ladies. Meadowlark, Antelope Island State Park, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 400.
Saw a “bachelor” heard of Mule Deer. They were quite a distance away, but I thought this guy deserved a little attention. Mule Deer, Antelope Island State Park.
Three more shots of the Coyote on the Antelope Island Causeway. He seems to have gotten into quite a scrap, or simply put his nose somewhere it doesn’t belong.
Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/2500, f/8, ISO 400.
February 14, 2015
I don’t think this owl wanted me hanging around, even though I remained in my truck shooting from the window. He is a regular in one of the hay barns on the Island. Great Horned Owl, Antelope Island State Park, Utah, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/320, f/6.3, ISO 1600.
February 12, 2015
It is a first, for me, to catch one of these guys in flight. Prairie Falcon, Antelope Island State Park, Utah, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/1600, f/8.0, ISO 800.
February 11, 2015
White-Crowned Sparrow, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 800
Northern Flicker. Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800
Dark-Eyed Junco, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 800
February 10, 2015
Beautiful weather, but it was a pretty slow day today at Farmington Bay WMA, Utah. Herring Gull (I think). Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/1250, f/9, ISO 400.
February 9, 2015
Today was definitely, not a stellar day for wildlife photography. Buckets of rain and dark clouds limited the opportunities. This pheasant was the single highlight of my day. These guys are planted by Utah DNR, and a few survive the hunters. Ringneck Pheasant, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah. Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/160, f/5.6, ISO 1600.
February 8, 2015
This is the first male Northern Harrier I have seen this year at Farmington Bay. It seems to be the norm that there are many more females than males, but I was beginning to be a little concerned as I had not seen any. Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 400. This is a fairly severe crop as the bird did not approach very close.
While the warm weather does seem to be affecting the eagle attendance at the “party”, it also seems to be energizing the Long-tailed Weasels. This little guy made several appearances today and for a few minutes, I felt like I had stumbled onto a Yellowstone Bear Jam. Cars were stopped all over the road, photographers were gathered in mass, and the excitement was high. Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/2000, f/11, ISO 400.
February 6, 2015
Bringing Home the Bacon…. err, Vole. Long tailed weasel in winter coloration with recently deceased Vole. Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 800, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah
I was looking over my weasel shots, and found I wanted to share this one, too. Long-tailed Weasel in winter coat, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 teleconverter, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 800. Farmington Bay WMA, Utah
In the Weeds! This lady was coasting in the breeze, put on the brakes, and dropped into the grasses. Northern Harrier, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah, Canon 7Kmkii, Canon 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 1000
This kestrel was “kiting” in the wind. She was furiously flapping her wings to hover over a single spot. She would hold this position until something on the ground attracted her attention. Then she would drop. American Kestrel, female, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 1000. I needed the fast shutter speed to try to stop the wings.
February 5, 2015
While waiting for something to shoot today, a flock of Yellowlegs swarmed into view. This one, I think, is a Lesser Yellowlegs. Farmington Bay WMA, Utah, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 800
Another little visitor. This one is a juvenile Ruddy Duck, I think. Farmington Bay WMA, Utah, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/2000, f/6.3, f/6.3 ISO 1000.
As the light was diminishing, this Bald Eagle passed by. Not the greatest shot, but I thought I’d post it as evidence that there are bald eagles at Farmington Bay WMA, Utah. Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/8000, f/7.1, ISO 800. I’m not sure why I had the shutter speed so fast.
February 4, 2015
The one gull, that I can sometimes identify, is the Ring-Billed. I think this is one of those. Ring-Billed Gull, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah. Canon 7Dmkii, 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 800.
February 3, 2015
Singing loud. Meadowlark, Antelope Island State Park, Utah, Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/640, f/6.3, ISO 400
February 1, 2015
Juvenile Bald Eagle (third year). They do not get the full white head and tail until their fourth year. This was shot with a Canon 7Dmkii, Canon 500 f/4, and a Canon 1.4 Teleconverter. 1/2000, f 6.3, ISO 400
