Late last year I was challenged to post 365 images during the 2015 calendar year. Rather than trying to do one a day, I am trying to post one for every day of each month. The tough rule is that I can only post images I take the day I post. This eliminates all historical shots from qualifying. However, this does allow me to post several images in a single day and count them all on the monthly total. When accepting this challenge, I thought it would be a piece of cake. After all, I take thousands of images each year. Well, I have found it is not so easy. I don’t want to post really awful stuff (I take lots of those) and I want to keep things fresh by not posting the same subjects repeatedly. As it sets I did complete January with enough images posted to my Facebook account. I would like to share those here.
January 31, 2015
At the end of my first full month, I managed to post 37 images in 31 days. It was a very challenging exercise, but it was also fun. Thanks to all those on Facebook, who tolerated my barrage of images during the month.
Quiet day, for me, on the Island. Bison, Antelope Island State Park, Utah.
Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter
1/250, f/22, ISO 800.
January 30, 2015
The majority of my “photographing” time is spent on the apex members of the food chain. This is the other end. These little critters serve as a primary food source to many raptors, coyotes, weasels, and foxes. If it were not for them, the magnificent apex creatures would be somewhere else where a plentiful food would be available.
Vole, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah. Canon 7dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 teleconverter. 1/1000, f/5.6, ISO 1000.
January 29, 2015
Flying pretty, Juvenile Bald Eagle, Undisclosed Location, Utah
Canon 7Dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 Teleconverter, 1/2000, f/8, ISO 800
I usually don’t like images of critters with their eyes closed, but this bird was singing with so much passion, it just seemed OK, to me, this time. Redwing Black Bird, Utah. Canon 7dmkii, Canon EF 500 f/4, Canon 1.4 teleconverter, 1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 800.
January 28, 2015
A very unusual winter resident presented itself to me today. Of course, with our temperatures being in the 50’s, it is hard to consider this winter. Burrowing Owl, Antelope Island State Park, Utah.
January 27, 2015
This young eagle did not seem the least bit concerned I was in his neighborhood. The adults promptly left the vicinity as my diesel chevy truck rattled into the area. Juvenile Bald Eagle, Undisclosed Location, Utah.
Downy Woodpecker, Willard Bay State Park, Utah.
January 25, 2015
He gave me a fly-by today. Rough-legged Hawk, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah.
If a short-tailed weasel is called an ermine when in it’s white coat, what is a long-tailed weasel called when it is in it’s white coat?
It’s called a long-tailed weasel. Go figure!
One more of the roughie. They are very handsome birds. Rough-legged Hawk, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah.
January 24, 2015
I named this eagle, Otis. Why, you might ask? It is because he is
.
.
.
.
Wait for it!
.
.
.
Sitting On A Rock in the Bay!
If you don’t understand this, ask your grandparents.
Bald Eagle, Undisclosed Location, Utah
One more eagle for the day. Juvenile Bald Eagle, Undisclosed Location, Utah.
A lot of birds seem to think spring is in the air. American Robin, Undisclosed Location, Utah.
Eagles were not the only birds out today. Rough-Legged Hawk
Farmington Bay WMA, Utah
The eagles have landed. Over 100 eagles on the ice at Farmington Bay. Also, over a thousand gulls fishing the open areas in the ice. Quite a change from yesterday when there were just a few gulls and a couple of eagles.
January 23, 2015
Good Raptor day. Red-tailed Hawk, undisclosed location, Utah
Finally! Talking to me. Bald Eagle – Juvenile Undisclosed Location, Utah
Another. There were about six of these first year birds. Juvenile Bald Eagle, Undisclosed Location, Utah
I think he noticed me. Bald Eagle, Undisclosed Location, Utah
Third and last. The others were not as bold as these three. Bald Eagle – Juvenile, Undisclosed Location, Utah
January 22, 2015
Saw a pair of these guys on the causeway. They were taking their time and hunting along the way. I kept this “G” rated and didn’t show one with a mouth full of rodent.
Coyote, Causeway Antelope Island State Park, Utah.
If you are a rodent, and you see this, you are getting ready to have a really bad day!
Coyote, Causeway Antelope Island State Park, Utah.
Horned Lark, also showing a bit of color. Another indicator of Spring. Do they know that it is just January? Horned Lark, Antelope Island State Park, Utah.
Although they are not a native bird, Chukars have adapted well to Utah. Chukar, Antelope Island State Park, Utah.
Meadowlarks are showing color and singing. They think spring has arrived. Meadowlark, Antelope Island State Park, Utah
January 21, 2015
This guy sat in the rare sunshine and posed for quite a while today. They are very cool birds. While technically not a raptor, their behavior sure mimics one. Loggerhead Shrike, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah.
I am starting to think this bird might actually make it through the winter, if we ever actually get winter here. White-Faced Ibis, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah.
Another appreciator of the sunshine today. American Kestrel, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah.
My first Bald Eagle image of the season. Hopefully, winter will get here soon, so the Eagles will give us more opportunity for images. Bald Eagle, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah.
January 17, 2015
The geographically challenged White-Faced Ibis is still hanging out at Farmington Bay. I did see a half-dozen Bald Eagles catching a thermal for their flight back to the mountains today. They were too far away for a photograph, but it was fun to see them.
January 16, 2015
Not the best light today, but always fun to see these guys. Coyote, Antelope Island State Park, Utah.
January 15, 2015
American Coot. Farmington Bay WMA, Utah. A hunter friend of mine told me the Coot’s major defense in nature is that they just taste so bad. His story is that his dog started to retrieve one that had been shot, spit it out, made a pathetic face, and would not go back out on retrieval for several weeks thereafter. As there was a group of about twenty of these in one area, there was a “cover” of coots.
Juvenile Black-Crowned Night-Heron. Farmington Bay WMA, Utah. This one seems fairly young for this time of year. Hope he makes it through the winter. As there was only one, there was not a “siege” of herons.
January 13, 2015
American Kestrel with breakfast. Farmington Bay WMA, Utah. Cloudy and dark most of the morning, but caught a bit of light for this bird. Kestrels are one of the most efficient hunters in the raptor world. They always have successful hunts, even when the prey count is down. This year is a boon for them. Lots of voles, not much competition (so far). There is much scientific discussion on why they are so successful. One school attributes their success to being able to “see” in the ultraviolet range allowing them to track urine trails left by voles. There is lots of discussion disputing this ability. However, they do seem to have prey when others (including owls) are struggling.
January 9, 2015
Northern Harrier, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah
January 7, 2015
Great Blue Heron, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah. Several of these guys out on the ice today. There were a few bald eagles with them, but too far out for photos. Soon!
January 6, 2015
While not exactly rare, these guys are pretty shy. Virginia Rail, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah. Also, they are pretty solitary. Was nice to see a “reel” of rails (about 5).
