The Salty Desert in October

 

When I first time saw the Antelope Island I couldn't decide do I like it or not but time went on and I was getting used to its uniqueness spending more and more time there. 

I don't know how to photograph the desert.  I see its colors, lines, feel its vastness but its bareness sometimes so harsh that I have to stop, take a deep breath and remind myself that the desert is beautiful you only have to see and feel it.

Almost all bisons are right now in the coral where they will be checked for health but a few somehow escaped.  This is one of them.

The male Mule Deer. His horns are so impressive!

Sometimes I see one or two cowboys in the desert and wonder how does it feel to ride a horse?   

Generally, life is good!

Elegant Fast Runners

I photographed these Pronghorns during their mating season that started at the beginning of September and would last till October.  A male (buck) during this time would have a harem of two to four females who would decide which male's harem to join and stay there. 

Females mate with many males and often will have twins born from two different fathers.

The Pronghorns sleep only ten minutes per day, most of the time they are looking for food or just moving from one place to another.

Taking a short rest.

Can you imagine that this young slender Pronghorn can swim?  And can do it very well.  

Pronghorns are incredibly fast runners.  If bisons can run 40 miles per hour (I always try to remember it),  Pronghorns are running at speeds of up to 53 miles.  They are almost as fast as cheetahs.  

Generally, life is good!

A Young Western Grebe During a Windstorm

Last Sunday we had a strong windstorm and temperature dropped so low.  The family of Western Grebes I watched during last few months was still at Bear River. 

On the photo above is a young Western Grebe is learning how to deal with a stormy river.

I am keeping fingers crossed that we will not have anymore unpleasant surprises with weather and Grebes in a few weeks will leave safely the Bear River.

Generally, life is good!

" I Am a Big Bird, Don't Mess With Me..."

Birds use songs and calls to communicate but like us, humans, their body language sometimes tells a lot about how a bird feels and what action it is going to take.

This Snowy Egret is preparing to go into fight, he is annoyed and aggressive. His feathers are up on his head, the body is tense and slightly bent forward.  The Egret is saying in his own way, " I am a big bird, don't mess with me."

To look even more threatening he raised his feathers on his back and looks bigger and more powerful.

This photo I took when a fight was over and the Egret calmed down.  Here he is relaxed and ready to continue fishing. His feathers are almost slick, his wings and tail are closed.

This moment is very important, the Egret is making a decision to go into fight or not and looks a little bit hesitant but the feathers on his head are up and indicate he certainly is going to fight.

Generally, life is good!

Pelicans First Year Migration

 

This is the first year migration for young American White Pelicans.  They are preparing for it training their flying muscles.  They are majestic when flying, soaring with a remarkable steadiness on white-and-black wings.

The Bear River will be deserted without these beautiful large birds but spring will come and American White Pelicans will be back.

Generally, life is good!

They Are Characters

 

When I see bisons together I think of them as one large family. Apart, they are personalities with interesting characters, just like us.

Look at this determined guy who is walking slowly and confidently.  He is so much aware of his strength.

Female bison is milking her baby.  Her motherly look is so soft but alert.  Any threat to her baby and the softness of her look will change in an instant and she will fearlessly defend her baby.

What kind of expression is this?   I couldn't figure out but he is sure a very expressive.

Showing a tongue to me.  What about being polite during the photo op?

  

Shyness?...  I like his eyes, they are not stern, they are soft and gentle.

Powerful!  

Generally, life is good!

Soon They Will Be Independent

I wasn't at Bear River for a few weeks and it was so refreshing to be there again.

Most shore birds have already migrated but a few families of Western Grebes are still at Bear River.  They are waiting when their young ones will be able to fly and feed themself on their own.

The family of Grebes I watched for a few months is still at the same place. Their chicks have grown adult-like feathers and they are much better at catching fish. 

The young ones also able to do different stretches and look often funny. 

It looks like the young Grebe is begging for fish.  But it's a time to fish on your own.

Safe and comfortable close to his mama.

Still very young but can dive easily.  A few more weeks and the young Grebes will be independent!

Generally, life is good!

Fly With Me

I was sure that American Avocets have already migrated. It's cold in the mornings and then temperature rises during the day.  To my surprise Avocets are still at the Great Salt Lake in black and white winter plumage.

Generally, life is good!

Feeding Isn't Always Successful

Grebe chicks can swim within hours of hatching but they depend on their parents for food for almost three months. Three long months chicks parents will constantly feed them. That is a hard and exhausting job. 

This time the male Grebe caught a big fish and he is going to feed it to his young.

The chick bends his head, his bill is open, it's easy this way to get fish.  His parent watches carefully that fish wouldn't slip into the water.

Ahh, fish slipped into the water.  The young chick and his dad certainly didn't expect it but mistakes happen.  

There are only a few seconds that fish can be recovered out of water.  Dad knows it and will dive trying to get fish. 

This time fish was recovered and delivered to the chick who would hold it tight with his tiny bill.  

At three weeks Grebe chicks are able to pursue fish but their fluffy down makes them slow and they often miss fish.  At eight weeks, they have grown adult-like feathers and they are better at catching fish.  At twelve weeks Grebe chicks are independent!  They are able to fly and catch all of their own food.

Generally, life is good!

 

American Avocets and Franklin's Gulls at the Great Salt Lake

 

I took these photographs at the end of September at the Great Salt Lake. I was driving along the lake's shore when I spotted the group of Avocets surrounded by several Franklin's Gulls.  I walked  down to the lake between rocks and sage bushes hoping to get to birds close but Franklin's gulls immediately took off and Avocets stayed.

The skittish Gulls are taking off.

The dancers with long legs and wide spread wings. They look a little bit awkward.

It's nice to have a nap in the cool morning but not everyone is napping, some are still looking for food.  

Generally, life is good!

Oregon Dark-eyed Juncos at Garr Ranch

My very first bird I photographed was a male Dark-eyed Junco.  It was the beginning of winter and I was so happy to take a few photos of this bird on the snow. What I didn't know by that time that there are so many variations of Dark-eyed Juncos.

One week ago while visiting Garr Ranch on Antelope Island I saw several birds on the ground who resembled so much my first Dark-eyed Junco only they looked a little bit different. They were females Oregon Dark-eyed Junco.  

That day I saw only females Junco on the ground and no males around. Apparently, the females don't do well being among many males Junco, they even tend to winter farther south, away from the males who stay farther north.

At some point one of females decided to perch on the tree for a while showing gracefully her beauty.

This Junco is holding a piece of dry grass, I assume she found a seed on it.

Dark-eyed Juncos live up to 3 years. I read that some of them live even longer but it's very rare.

Generally, life is good!

Dirt Bathing

 

It's probably feels good to roll around in the dirt while giving yourself the dirt bath.   

There is not much water available for bisons on Antelope Island to bathe, so over time they figured out that rolling in the dirt can do the same as bathing in the water.  

Bathing in the dirt helps bisons to chase flies off, to shed loose hair from last winter and also leaves a protective layer that will make more difficult for flies to bite them.

The dirt bathing is over but the bison will stay for a while in the dust.

Generally, life is good!

Notes to Self

I found myself in total isolation and it seems that the only friends I have are nature, birds and wild animals.  I think more and more of them as my blessings.

The gap between my life before pandemic and right now is getting bigger and bigger and I don't know how to make it smaller.

Once Rumi said that there is nothing outside of yourself, you just have to look within and everything you want you will find there. I repeat these words everyday, they help me to stay strong.

Generally, life is good!

A Little Bit of Tenderness

American White Pelicans mature fast, soon they will start to prepare for migration.  I can't believe that only two moths ago they were teenagers, funny, silly and tender.  

Looks like they are having a tete-a-tete conversation.

Preening can be so elegant especially if you have such beautiful long feathers. 

Hmm... doesn't look like a friendly encounter.  The big guy is aggressive, he landed a few seconds ago and immediately started to establish his right to join this group. 

Generally, life is good!