Osprey Saga - I. A Male Osprey Brings Nesting Material

Four years after the final pages of the previous Osprey Saga drew to a close in 2022, the next generation’s story opens with the male Osprey delivers fresh nesting material to his waiting family.

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I watched the male Osprey for a while as he kept an eye on his babies. Then he was gone, only to surprise me fifteen minutes later by flying back to the nest with what he thought would be a valuable addition.  His choice of material was quite unique.

Unfortunately, that plastic rope he carried can be tangled hazard for his chicks.  I hope so much that they will be safe.

Flight requires a continuous cycle of raising and lowering the wings. What you are seeing here is the downstroke (or the push phase) of his flight cycle.

Wings spread and talons full, an osprey approaches its massive nest with a fresh find to secure it.

"Honey, I'm home... and I brought back some new decor!" 

A male Osprey delivers his find to his mate as he prepares to land on their nest.

Generally, life is good.

 

Sovereign of the Swamp

Great Blue Heron announcing his arrival to his territory.

 

I first spotted this Great Blue Heron, a few days ago, hiding in the far reaches of the marshland. This marsh is completely his kingdom (though he occasionally lets a few pelicans share the lease). 

This morning, I waited... and waited... for "His Highness" to make an appearance. But when he finally returned to his wetlands, he didn't just slide in quietly. He announced his arrival with a thunderous, unmistakable cry, and I was lucky enough to capture that very moment.

Generally, life is good.

Power of Wings

 

A Great Blue Heron moves through the open sky with quiet confidence. What seems slow and awkward on land becomes steady and assured in flight

Generally, life is good.

On the Wings. American White Pelican in Flight

 

Among the flock one soars.

Generally, life is good.

In Flight

An American White Pelican glides effortlessly over green fields.

Generally, life is good.

Long-billed Curlew in Flight

Long-billed Curlew wrapped its wings around itself like a cloak.

Generally, life is good.

Great Blue Heron Takes Off

Great Blue Herons are very cautious birds and they usually tend to fly away from people. It is their survival instinct.  

That morning the Heron changed its direction for unknown reasons.  He flew towards me and it's hard for me to say why the Heron did this.

In this photo I cut off one of the wing tip of the Great Blue Heron but I think it's still acceptable.

It all started simply and nothing foreshadowed that the Heron would soon leave this place.  I regret that I should have anticipated this by giving the bird more space in the frame when it took off.  But I got what I got...

Generally, life is good.

Male Mallard in Flight

With a flash of emerald green and gleaming white,

The male mallard slices through the air, 

His wings beating with a steady rhythm. 

Generally, life is good.

On the Wings. Weather and Mood

It's a dark overcast morning and there is not enough light to photograph birds in flight.

As luck would have it, one flock of ducks after another takes off.  My shutter speed is slow but I shoot anyway and get blurry ducks.  To my surprise, I like what is happening. 

My first experience with motion blur was completely unexpected and taught me a very important lesson: when there is not enough light, you don't have to despair.

I am always delighted when a male Mallard in flight covers itself with its wings like a cloak.

This Wood duck is sharp, but luckily the tips of its wings are blurred.

Mallards are always beautiful in flight.

Generally, life is good.

On the Great Salt Lake

 

The Great Salt Lake is the important resting place for migrating shorebirds. 

Thousands of different shorebirds can be seen on Antelope Island in late September and October. This is one the greatest bird phenomena in the West. 

Generally, life is good.

On the Wings

 

American White Pelicans.

White-faced Ibis.

Running Western Grebe.

American White Pelican.

Generally, life is good.

Immature Black-crowned Night Heron During Sunrise

I don't remember how it all started, but I remember very well the day I discovered a spacious backwater on the Bear River, which is the flight path of many birds.

When I am on the Bear River MBR, I drive to this backwater, and like a Great Blue Heron patiently wait  for the fish to come to me  when in the sky a bird may appear, any bird. 

Sometimes I see a squadron of pelicans heading my way or seagulls soaring overhead, but on some days a lone immature Black-night heron flies past. 

Generally, life is good.

On the Wings - II.

Canada Geese.

Snowy Egret.

Forster's Tern.

American White Pelican.

Generally, life is good.

American White Pelicans in Flight

 

Silhouettes often tell stories without words.

Generally, life is good.

The First Squadron of American White Pelicans Preparing for Landing

 

Pelicans appeared from afar and flew towards me in small groups. They flew in row, the first line, the second, and I decided to wait. Fortunately, the first squadron of pelicans turned left making them easier to focus on.

The Pelicans are about to land but meanwhile they are still in formation and their wingtips are almost touching each other.

Landing of Pelicans always looks like a collision, but in fact they are very careful not to hurt other Pelicans.

Generally, life is good.

Finally

Strange word "finally". There is some kind of victorious note in it. But I cannot call my attempts to capture the moments of Forster's Tern diving for a fish victorious.

It’s just that this time, by some miracle, I somehow managed to photograph a few important moments and missed the rest.

Forster's Tern is looking for fish.  In a few seconds it will dive to catch it.  

Tern emerged from the water with a fish.  I missed the moment of Tern's dive. 

The Tern is flying to its family to deliver fish to its babies.  Forster's Terns breed and raise their young in Utah. 

Generally, life is good.

Past the Moon - II. Finale

I wish there would be at least a few ifs that day; the sky would not be dark and stormy, the flying White Faced Ibises would form perfect lines and fly past the moon beautifully but most of the time this did not happen.

After reviewing all my photos of the birds and the moon I chose two more photos that looked more or less decent and said goodbye to the rest.

Generally, life is good.

Past the Moon

 

This morning during sunrise the light was constantly changing. Sometimes the clouds covered the moon and completely hid it behind them but it did not last long; the first rays of the sun did not take long to arrive.

Flocks of White-faced ibises were heading east. I waited for them to fly past the moon. Luckily, this happened twice!

The moment when the moon is half behind the clouds and the sky is dark, but the moon emits light giving a nice contrast.

Generally, life is good.

Flying Low

 

Two weeks ago I was looking for shorebirds on the Bear River MBR but at some point came across this Great Egret.  As I approached he immediately took off, but at first he flew low and to my delight I was able to take several photos of this elegant bird in flight.

Generally, life is good.

Yesterday - I.

 

Yesterday the Bear River greeted me with strong, gusty wind, which died down just before sunset.  But this was not something special; what was special and surprising was a group of four Snowy Egret that behaved unusually.

First, they didn't care at all about my presence or so it seemed but when they stood on the rocks they always were looking in my direction and checking if I was still there.

Then they usually flew to the bridge where I was standing, completely ignoring me. I wish I could be ignored like this all the time.

 

Sometimes I just needed to take a few steps back because Egrets were in such a close proximity that my lens had a difficult time to focus.

And to my big surprise, one Egret even walked toward me on the road.  True, he very soon came to his senses and flew away.

I was fascinated by yesterday’s behavior of these extraordinary birds and could not find a decent explanation for it. Maybe it has something to do with the wind, although I doubt it.

Generally, life is good.