Utah Birds
Read MoreWestern Grebe Shaking off Water
A western grebe shakes off water as part of its morning routine. Grebes are diving birds and spend much of their time underwater looking for fish or crustaceans. Their feathers are waterproof and keeping them in good health is critical to their survival. Here the grebe's feathers had got wet as it preened and the shake was part of its effort to remove the water.
American white pelican closeup
A closeup of pelican storing fish in its pouch. I was lucky that these majestic birds allowed me within a few feet of them as they were feeding, giving me several interesting photo ops.
A trio of American white pelicans arrive at their feeding area These large birds nest inland but close to water bodies. They fish in small to moderately sized groups, often diving in unison. Here, I saw them arrive in small numbers to feed on carp trapped by a small check dam. I was captivated by the lighting, synchronous head angles and colors.