What Remains. The Shape of Silence

 

Common teasel.  North Arm Wildlife trail.  September 2026

Generally, life is good.

The Empty Nest

 

North Arm Wild Trail, September 2026

This morning marked my return to the North Arm Wildlife Trail, a familiar stretch that had been off-limits for nearly two years.

I was heading toward the osprey nest, full of quiet anticipation. Approaching the nest brought a touch of disappointment—the nest stood empty. I had really hoped to catch even a fleeting glimpse of the birds today. Still, simply walking on the trail again was a gift in itself.

Generally, life is good.

 

Female Common Rosefinch

 

It was quiet on the North Arm Wild Trail that early morning, except for birds singing.

I was about to find out how the Osprey family was doing when I spotted a bird I have never seen. The moment was exceptional, the background wasn't cluttered, the light was great and the bird wasn't about to fly away.  The brave bird turned out to be a female Common Rosefinch.  

By the way, an adult male has a bright rosy head and chest.

Generally, life is good.

Immature Female Hooded Oriole

 

That July morning on the North Arm Wildlife Trail was peaceful, not a breath of wind, only the ringing songs of blackbirds. 

At some point I heard a gentle bird song I have never heard before and then I saw the "singer", the long and slender bird with slightly curved bill.  

At the beginning I had no idea what kind of bird it was.  Only later I learned that I encountered my first immature female Hooded Oriole. 

Nature never ceases to amaze me, sometimes in the most seemingly ordinary moments, suddenly a beautiful unfamiliar bird appears out of nowhere and even performs a short, sonorous song for you.  Isn't this happiness?

Generally, life is good.

You Don't Need Wings to Fly

 

This morning I was watching how a hot air ballon was flying over the valley and thought perhaps it's time to sail away from the safe harbor and become a little more daring.

Generally, life is good!

Notes to Self. My First Chipmunk

When you are in the mountains you are in the completely different world. It's a very quiet world that shelter animals, birds, snakes, squirrels and some reptiles .

I almost missed a Chipmunk on the photo above while hiking in the Wasatch mountains. The Chipmunk settled comfortably on the trail and enjoyed his breakfast.  

The Chipmunk gave me a couple of seconds to catch him in the frame.  A couple of seconds can be an eternity if you're lucky...  

Generally life is good!

Building a Nest

 

I wasn't on the North Arm Wildlife Trail for a long while and this morning was a time to see how the Osprey family was doing.

The first thing that caught my attention was the nest where the female Osprey was going to raise her young ones. The nest was not completed yet, building it was still in a progress.  

One of Ospreys worked hard bringing the best and longest branches it could find.

A little rest.  Soon the Osprey will leave the nest to look again for branches.

Generally, life is good!

Ospreys Saga Continues - I. Osprey Family is Back!

The Osprey family is back to North Arm Wildlife trail and to the same nests.  One of the nests will become the birthplace of the little ones, and the other a school where the young Ospreys will start learning how to be on their own. 

Female Osprey has not yet started nesting and spends almost all of her time on the second nest.

I was greeted by female Osprey nicely and want to believe that she remembers me from the last year. This raptor has the sharp eyes and a good memory.  

I was looking forward for Osprey family arrival.  Spring has begun and Ospreys are back!

Generally, life is good!

Cedar Waxwings Are Enjoying the Last September Days

The end of September.  The North Arm Wildlife trail meets me with coolness and silence.  Many birds have already migrated and the trail is unusually quiet.  

Suddenly from nowhere, a small group of Cedar Waxwings begins to circle near a tall bush and everything is as before. The trail comes alive, the silence no longer evokes sadness, the birds are noisy and are not going to fly away.  

The Cedar Waxwings were the last birds I photographed on the North Arm Wildlife trail.  

But in the spring all birds who are used to breeding in this place will return back.  I am looking forward for their return.

Generally, life is good!

 

Ospreys Saga - X. Intimate portraits of Female Osprey

 

I so wanted to create the intimate portraits of female Osprey I was watching for a few months and to have a glance into her soul if it's possible.  

The female Osprey worked hard raising her two babies.  She rarely left the nest, only on occasion she went fishing.  After the young ones made their first flight and enjoyed their freedom their mother was intensely watching them for a few days and from time to time warning her young ones to be careful.

It's a hard job to raise your young ones, you have to feed them, to protect, to teach how to fly, to fish. Nobody taught the female Osprey how to do it, she just knew what was right and did it.

The female Ospreys are the amazing mothers, they are loving, patient and caring.  

The mother was waiting for hours for her young ones while they were fishing and exploring the area. 

***

This morning I came to see again the female Osprey but she wasn't anywhere around and my first thought was that the family of Ospreys have already migrated but to my surprise I saw two young Ospreys soaring high in the sky.  One of them was holding a fish in his talons.  The family of Ospreys didn't migrate yet...

Generally, life is good.

On the North Arm Wildlife Trail

 

A few days ago I discovered the North Arm Wildlife Trail that begins on the north side of Pineview Reservoir.  This trail runs through riparian wetland and its ecosystem is so different from where I live.

This trail is almost a paradise with tall trees, wild flowers and birds. There are a few little streams there and my heart were singing with joy when I stopped by them.

I saw a flying Bold Eagle in the sky and was surprised to see this raptor in the middle of the summer. I found two Osprey nests.  Sadly, one was empty and abandoned but another was in use by a couple of Ospreys.

 

The only bird I was able to photograph on the trail that day was a female Blackbird.

 

Two butterflies were ready to mate .

I wish I could get closer to water but unfortunately I chose a wrong way and started to get stuck in the swamp land and turned around.

Generally, life is good!