Our autumn sunrise at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge ended up among the favorites in the assortment of impressions and memories of the past year. The Refuge is a serene and meditative place in any season, but we especially love it in the winter: Everything is so spare then. Because all the other colors are drained away, shades of brown and white, a rich palette of them if you only look closer, dazzle. You can read about the logistics of visiting the Refuge in my autumn post. Here, I would like to simply show you what it looks like when most things are still.
The 12-mile drive to the Refuge seems bare without the wildflowers and delicate avocets wading in the water. The landscape feels flatter somehow. But, as ever, cows graze at a distance, and mountains frown silently, now under the light cloak of snow.
Most of the Refuge’s regular visitors and residents are away in winter. No matter, for this is the season of some of the Bear River’s most charismatic temporary patrons: owls, bald eagles, hawks, falcons, and tundra swans. Every second Saturday, January through March 2013, the Refuge celebrates a particular favorite–owls in January, bald eagles in February, and tundra swans in March. We didn’t see the owls, but eagles, marsh hawks, and tundra swans were not as shy.
Clouds of tundra swans arrive at Bear River from Alaska in October. They sometimes move on to California for the solid-freeze part of Utah’s winter, only to return in March and stay into April–an impressive spectacle, if you can catch it. Like gulls, a year-around presence at the Refuge, these are not quiet visitors.
It makes your heart skip when, startled by something, an entire flock of swans rises, swooshing sounds of their wings eerie and monotonous against the cacophony of their cries.
A sprinkling of other waterfowl brave the winter–small ducks mostly. Common goldeneyes and mergansers were the most unusual for us.
But even the familiar outlines of ravens and Canadian geese are a welcome sight against this color-starved backdrop. We enjoyed watching a couple of geese launch into flight.
And even when all birds are gone or too far away, the quiet and the indifference of the scenery absorbs you.
Like at Antelope Island, the sky and the water seem to dissolve the space between them: Patches of dry grass, small marshy islands, mountains look like mere blotches of solid form, slowly drowning in the clouded endlessness above and below.
Finally, dusk slowly approaches, introducing gentle rose and cream to the congested sky.
Watchful red-winged blackbirds will follow you out, flying from grass strand to grass strand.
We are always sorry to leave this place. But it is time to go home.
More Posts Like This:
Pingback: Sunrise at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge « Transplanted Tatar
Lovely post. You write so evocatively and the images compliment your post beautifully.
Thank you, Distan. You are very kind. This place is one of my favorites–I love thinking and writing about it.
You describe this place so wonderfully, and your pics are exquisite. I especially love the red-winged blackbird on the grass strand, 🙂
Thank you! Red-winged blackbirds followed us around–and that image is one of my favorites as well. I really appreciate you stopping by.
It looks like a wonderful place for birdwatching. I truly love watching bald eagles and you have some great shots. However, for a cold weather sissy like me, I have a good spot a bit further south. In fact, it’s just north of Cocoa Beach, Florida. It’s a stop on the Eastern Continental Flyway, and while there aren’t eagles, it’s certainly warmer. Great post, Thanks.
Good to know! Florida is great for birdwatching–and, yes, a lot more pleasant in cold months. Bear River is haven for birds in all seasons, but I do love the eagles in winter. I’ve never seen so many adults in one place. As ever, thank you for reading.
Great post full with beautiful photos. Among those gorgeous photos, I love those two first photos because reflections in them are so incredible.
Thank you! The reflections of the mountains were mesmerizing. I could look into the river for ages–the water was so still, and colors so crisp.
Beautiful. Love the images of the common goldeneyes, which I have never seen.
Thank you, Elen! Goldeneyes were my favorites–nothing common about them!
Pingback: Into the Dreamscape of Antelope Island « Transplanted Tatar
Pingback: Assateague Island: Where the Wild Horses Roam « Transplanted Tatar
Pingback: Wild in Savannah: At the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge « Transplanted Tatar
Pingback: Sunrise at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge | Transplanted Tatar
Pingback: Cee’s Photo Challenge: Two’s Company | Transplanted Tatar