Wintertime on the AIC,
Dec. 13, 2010
(Antelope Island Causeway)
Often as I drive from the Salt Lake Valley toward Antelope Island, a sunny sky becomes cloudy and the day becomes 'black and white' approaching the Causeway
This day was no different, my photo plans being further complicated by Government Hunters on the water below the West bridge.
Decoys by the hundreds were scattered on the water and ice. These men were there to harvest waterfowl for the sake of determining Mercury levels in them.
Sadly enough, some birds like this one ended up wounded (broken wing) and left.
Almost immediately after the hunters left, the skies became crowded with waterfowl!
Lots of Northern Shovelers were first to appear...
Goldeneyes, Shovelers, Scaups, and Bonaparte's Gulls are but a few...
Boneparte's Gulls are well represented here...
Along with plenty of other ducks
Boneparte's Gulls in flight looked 'painterly' to me through my lens
They are lovely birds in flight
A pleasure to view...
Moving along the Causeway, American Kestrels were abundant
Midflight images are always fun
A backview...
Lunchtime for this one...
This hawk on the Causeway sign advertises that he is a "Rough-Legged" Hawk
This is a 'sign of the times'... winter on the Causeway with another Rough-Legged.
A Red Tailed Hawk rests in an Olive tree.
As does this Northern Harrier, on low lying bushes
The Harrier flies low, just above the tops of the bushes.
The Harrier looked menacing as he flew over my head
I suspect this dead Northern Shoveler Drake succumbed to a shotgun blast; and
the Harrier got a free meal.
The Harrier was stripping feathers here.
Trouble appeared in the form of a 2nd Harrier...
Further West, at Ladyfinger Point, I found a Rock Wren.
I was looking for a Bewick's Wren, which I found.
The Bewick's Wren didn't stay visible long.
Crossing the sky overhead and westward was a Bald Eagle!
Shortly therafter, an Adult Northern Harrier flew past.
And shortly after came a Prairie Falcon!
Snow below the bird reflected light to illuminate its breast markings
Back on the Causeway, an apparent Juvenile Herring Gull floated alone
And a short distance away was a gull that everyone thought might be a Thayer's; but
it has been labeled, "Larus sp" for now.
And, I ended the day by photographing this lone American Avocet... a good day.
