On the Great Salt Lake

Northern Shovelers on the Great Salt Lake, like many other waterfowl, typically take off in a coordinated sequence.  At first, a few ducks often take off, prompting others to follow them.

Generally, life is good.

Horned Lark Ready to Take Flight

 

This Horned Lark hopped from rock to rock looking for a place to perch.  

It was quite difficult to focus on the restless lark but at some moment the bird gave me an opportunity to take its photo before it took off.

The lark's legs were still touching the rock but all his body with lowered wings was ready for flight.  The lark looked so different from other larks I had seen before that I found this photo interesting.  

I photographed a Horned Lark on Antelope Island.

Generally, life is good.

Great Egret at Farmington Bay -II.

It was an early, gloomy October morning in Farmington Bay.  It was damp, gray and cold and I didn't expect to see a single bird. 

About half an hour later I saw several Great Egrets in the distance.  They were far away but slowly heading towards the shore.  One of them, the bravest, came  closer and closer.  

Suddenly the gloomy damp morning no longer seemed gloomy, and all I could do was wait to see what would happen next and hope for luck.

Soon when Egret approached the shore it took off but not far. Was this a mistake or not? Or did something scare him away?  A few seconds later the bird had returned to its original place. 

Looking at this photo, a simple mantra from a fairy tale came out of my memory: catch fish, big and small. 

That morning the egret was mainly catching small fish and was happy.

It's hard to tell whether this pose is graceful or awkward. I tend to think that the pose is very graceful because at its core an egret  is a very graceful bird.

Generally, life is good!

Immature American White Pelican Takes Off

 

Like all large birds, American White Pelicans have to run on the water to gain enough speed to take off. First, they use their legs to push.

I have read that Pelicans don't use their wings to take off, but it looks like they use everything they have including their enormous wings.

It takes a few contacts with water before the Pelican has enough speed to rise above the water.

Another contact of legs with water in which the wings are raised for lifting.  Soon, with one mighty effort, the Pelican will be in the air.

It always takes my breath away when I see how these amazing birds take off.  They do it so beautifully and so skillfully.

Generally, life is good!

All Together and Apart

Yesterday I saw hundreds of Pelicans were swimming in the Bear River.  That was an incredible opportunity to photograph them all.  But an incredible opportunity soon turned out challenging.

It seemed that nothing could disturb the tranquility of these birds, but a whirlwind and light rain changed everything.  Pelicans started to leave the group, one by one, and I had no choice but to photograph their taking off.

 

Today I think that I am lucky that Pelicans didn't take to the sky as a group.  

Generally, life is good!