Birds of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge – Early Summer
Jul 1, 2019 15:20:55 #
The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, in Northern Utah, 74,000 acres (299 sq km), has some wonderful opportunities for bird photography year-round. There are literally millions of birds that migrate through the refuge each year. This was my first visit in early summer. Here are a few images that I captured during a drive through the 12 mile auto route of the refuge. I'm practicing and learning wildlife photography so comments and suggestions are welcome.
Clark's Grebe with reflection
(Download)
White-faced Ibis
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Female Mallard Duck - walking on water
(Download)
Male Cinnamon Teal
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Female Cinnamon Teal
(Download)
Female Gadwall
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Black-necked Stilts - 'two pair'
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Snowy Egret
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American White Pelican
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California Gull ....on a carp, wishing to be a raptor and tear open that fish....new meaning to 'California Dreamin'
(Download)
Jul 1, 2019 17:09:41 #
Jul 1, 2019 17:19:23 #
Cwilson341 wrote:
These are excellent shots! You're doing fine with bird photography!
Carol, Thanks for viewing and for the comments. I'm going to a workshop in Costa Rica with Steve Perry this week, where I hope to learn much more.
Jul 1, 2019 18:08:00 #
All great images, Frank...tell Steve we love him on the hog and come back with a lot of tips for us!! 
Jul 1, 2019 19:01:43 #
Your practice images are better than some of the "learned" ones I sometimes see. Good job and have fun on your workshop trip.
Jul 1, 2019 19:27:34 #
jederick wrote:
All great images, Frank...tell Steve we love him on the hog and come back with a lot of tips for us!!
jederick, Thanks for looking and for the comments. I'm eager to learn from a pro like Steve Perry and glad to share what I know.
Jul 1, 2019 19:29:58 #
kpmac wrote:
Your practice images are better than some of the "learned" ones I sometimes see. Good job and have fun on your workshop trip.
kpmac, Thanks for the encouragement. I've been looking forward to the trip and practicing for nearly a year.
Jul 1, 2019 19:32:54 #
Your bird photos are good. You might think about giving your subjects room to move. Your compositions will look better if you leave room in the frame in front of your subjects so that they have a place to go. This is particularly true with your Grebe and your Ibis. And to a lesser extent with your Cinnamon Teal drake. I'm not intending to be critical, your photos are fine but composition is important
Jul 1, 2019 19:38:25 #
Retired CPO wrote:
Your bird photos are good. You might think about giving your subjects room to move. Your compositions will look better if you leave room in the frame in front of your subjects so that they have a place to go. This is particularly true with your Grebe and your Ibis. And to a lesser extent with your Cinnamon Teal drake. I'm not intending to be critical, your photos are fine but composition is important
Retired CPO, Thanks for the suggestions. Good comments on composition. I've read similar advice before, but you're correct, I forgot to leave enough space in front of several of the birds in my cropping...especially the Grebe and Ibis in the first two images.
Jul 1, 2019 19:47:17 #
Steve F wrote:
Retired CPO, Thanks for the suggestions. Good comments on composition. I've read similar advice before, but you're correct, I forgot to leave enough space in front of several of the birds in my cropping...especially the Grebe and Ibis in the first two images.
It's not always possible to do. I have some very fine photos of hummingbirds that were coming to feeders. I don't like the plastic feeders in my photos so some of them are cropped pretty close to the front to keep the feeders out of the frame. That makes for less than ideal composition but they are too nice to delete.
Jul 2, 2019 05:49:28 #
Steve F wrote:
The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, in Northern Utah, 74,000 acres (299 sq km), has some wonderful opportunities for bird photography year-round. There are literally millions of birds that migrate through the refuge each year. This was my first visit in early summer. Here are a few images that I captured during a drive through the 12 mile auto route of the refuge. I'm practicing and learning wildlife photography so comments and suggestions are welcome.
Nice set.
Jul 2, 2019 07:52:36 #
TomV
Loc: Annapolis, Maryland
Thanks for the new birding site Steve. My wife and I are birders and this looks like great reason to visit the Great Salt Lake.
Jul 2, 2019 14:34:28 #
Steve F wrote:
The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, in Northern Utah, 74,000 acres (299 sq km), has some wonderful opportunities for bird photography year-round. There are literally millions of birds that migrate through the refuge each year. This was my first visit in early summer. Here are a few images that I captured during a drive through the 12 mile auto route of the refuge. I'm practicing and learning wildlife photography so comments and suggestions are welcome.
A very attractive set, you had a good day!
Jan 25, 2021 17:09:54 #
Great shots, and such an awesome variety 
That place must be a dream to take pictures in 
That place must be a dream to take pictures in Jan 25, 2021 18:54:41 #
joecichjr wrote:
Great shots, and such an awesome variety That place must be a dream to take pictures in
That place must be a dream to take pictures in Joe, Thanks for your review and comments. Yes, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is a wonderful place to photograph birds. There are over 80,000 acres with over 200 species of birds reported at the refuge during each year. There's usually very few people there. I usually drive the 12-mile auto tour route and stop several times to photograph. I typically only see 2-4 other cars during my visits. Although I suspect there are occasions when it's much busier.
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