Farmington Bay – The First Glimpse of 2,683 Stories

I returned from my trip with 2,683 images waiting to be revealed — moments captured across Utah’s wild waters. But before diving into the full archive, I felt drawn to begin right where I left off: Farmington Bay.

This was the final location I visited before my break. A place where time moved slowly, the light was intense, and the birds — though few — offered their own quiet presence. These first images feel like an opening chapter: imperfect, sun-drenched, and full of unexpected beauty.

📸 Image 1: Pelican in a Small Pond

📍 June 13, 6:04 PM

A lone pelican drifting in a shallow pond, reflecting the sharp light of a hot June day. This was my very first impression upon arriving. The editing was a challenge — the sun was unrelenting — but I love how the image radiates brilliance and heat.

The bird looked old, or perhaps just timeless. It set the tone for the entire session.

📸 Image 2: Killdeer by the Trail

📍 June 13, 6:14 PM

Just ten minutes later, I spotted a Killdeer perched calmly on a rock near the trail. She didn’t move. It felt like she was waiting for me — my second “model” of the day.

Simple, grounded, and quietly alert. A beautiful moment I didn’t expect.

📸 Image 3: Osprey Over the Feeder

📍 June 13, 6:24 PM

As I circled back from a locked trail and headed toward the Eccles Wildlife Education Center, I saw a large bird standing on a feeder meant for smaller birds. With the sun on its face, I truly believed I had photographed a bald eagle. It wasn’t until I began editing that I realized it was an osprey.

Another solitary presence.

What made this moment unforgettable was noticing, later, how the osprey’s eyes had been following me the entire time. It was curious. Watchful. And, honestly, a better model than I’d realized in the moment.

I remembered what a fellow photographer from the Wasatch Camera Club had once told me: “Put your camera on silent mode.” I usually do… but that day, it was in loud, rapid burst. The bird didn’t mind — and maybe that’s part of the story too.

📸 Image 4: American Avocet and the Fleeing Ducks

📍 June 13, shortly after 6:24 PM

Then I saw an American Avocet standing alone, beautifully poised. I composed the shot with the avocet in the foreground and a blurred group of ducks in the background — f/5.6 created just the right softness.

Just as I prepared to photograph the ducks more clearly, they saw me and fled. I remember whispering, “Wait — don’t go!” But they vanished fast.

I stood there thinking about how ducks are hunted, how alert they must always be. And I felt a kind of quiet sadness. Not all wildlife is at ease with a camera, and that’s part of the work too — observing, respecting, not always capturing.

Why These Stories Matter

These aren’t the most dramatic wildlife encounters. They’re not the most technically perfect shots. But they are real. They remind me how much life is happening when we slow down and simply look.

Farmington Bay may have felt empty at first glance, but it offered me a calm and meaningful welcome back — a warm handshake from nature.

There are thousands of images still waiting. But these four reminded me: the journey starts with a single impression. One bird. One spark of light. One moment to own.

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