Happy New Year!

Look for the simple things to enjoy in 2017!

Visiting Antelope Island

Diana and I spent several hours enjoying the beauty of the island today. The biggest surprise were the porcupines hanging out in Russian olive trees; but the most fun were the young coyotes that entertained us.  The most hilarious was the Magpie that flew down to the truck as soon as we stopped and started asking for food!
Here's some shots from the day.

What's a trip to Antelope Island without a Buffalo photo?

This guy greeted us early on.

This scene reminds me of the song - Home, Home on the Range.....

Here's the very forward Magpie!

Bet this is the first time you've seen eye to eye with a porcupine!

Sometimes the view just has to be captured! - Or at least attempted.

Here's the delightful young coyotes..

A Bird-lovers Day at the refuge!

Sunny and (slightly) warm, the harriers were hunting everywhere. A rough legged hawk was a watching them and the Kestrels had their own action. In between the small birds did their thing - and tried not to get caught and eaten...

Male Northern Harrier

Female Northern Harrier (she's bigger)

Songbird

Ring-necked Pheasants

Another songbird.

Young Red-tailed Hawk

Female Ruddy ducks

Kestrel dinner-time!

Rough-legged Hawk

Eye are bigger than .... mouth!

Here's a grebe that must have a Trump-sized opinion of his mouth - cause he is trying to eat a carp that is at least as big as himself!

The day after

Sunshine and cold - 21 here. Beautiful outside as the sun lights up the snow and trees and landscape.

A White Christmas!

We received a bit of snow overnight, about 8 inches or so at our place and probably 3X that in the mountains. I see that I-15 is closed around Cove Fort and it looks like crappy driving everywhere I look. So glad we are at home!

Here the front and rear gardens showing the snow...

Acrobat bird

Terns are flying acrobats! They do things that seem impossible and then they come out of the water and do it again.
Here's a short sequence of shots from Sanibel Island.

Waiting on a winter storm for a white Christmas!

Thinking about warmer places and times!!!!!!

Another wonderful time at the refuge.

A quiet day at the refuge, partly cloudy with no wind. Kestrels and Harriers were out in force and sometimes the Harrier was the Kestrels focus! Not nice to come into someone else's territory!!

Here's some fun photos from today.

I believe this is a long-billed Dowitcher but it is so shy it won't show it's beak!

Heron checking out nesting box - "anyone home?"

A panorama of the top of Goose Egg Hill that includes a neat cloud bank and the Wasatch mountains in the background.

The Watcher!

All in a row - Merganser, Grebe, Coot!

My world!

I spent a few hours at the wildlife refuge today, much of it just hanging out with no agenda. The first hanging out was with a Great Blue Heron - a.k.a. GBH - while he hunted. then I watched two female Northern Harriers interacting and just tried to figure out what they were up top.
Pied Bill Grebes were keeping a close eye on Coots in case a Coot caught a fish (by mistake). Kestrels were everywhere and several were eating their lunches.

Ring-necked Ducks. His head is purple and she gets the white spot!

A Favorite Bird

One of my favorite birds is the Ibis - all kinds. Watch them long enough and you'll get to see all kinds of behavior and if you are lucky a good shot or two.
Here's one I got that I took a while to figure out what to do with it - but I am glad I yielded to my inner impulses!

Swirling Ibis

In the shadow of the mountain!

Our new house is in the shadow of Mount Olympus, it is visible every where you turn around. So I thought I would work on capturing it's beauty and grandeur. Here's a couple of beginnings..long ways to go.

Christmas performances

We were fortunate to be able to attend the Christmas presentation for Cosgriff School, held St. Ambrose Church last night. Wonderful performances by the youngest to the oldest! Here's some shots from the evening!
I think the parents were more excited than the kids!!

Floral stuff

Beauty even in the end time.

My true love wore red!