Photographer and Author

About Mia McPherson

I am Mia McPherson. I became seriously passionate about bird photography while living in Florida. After my move West in 2009 I have spent much of my time photographing birds in Utah, Idaho, Montana, and beyond. As a nature lover, bird and wildlife photographer, I have a passion for capturing the beauty and grace of birds and wildlife in their natural habitats.
Life is good.

My Video With A Surprise Great Blue Heron

By |2024-02-19T07:35:41-06:00February 19th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my last trip up to Bear River MBR, I stopped to take a video on the auto tour loop, and a Great Blue Heron surprised me by flying into view over the river.

Pied-billed Grebe – Breeding And Nonbreeding Plumage Comparison

By |2024-02-18T05:05:26-06:00February 18th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Pied-billed Grebes, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last week, I took a photo of a Pied-billed Grebe in breeding plumage at my local pond. Today, I decided to do a comparison with one in nonbreeding plumage.

Young Bald Eagle On The Road

By |2024-02-17T04:35:58-06:00February 17th, 2024|Categories: Bald Eagles, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This Bald Eagle photo isn't my best image of this species, and that is alright with me. I took the photo five days ago on the auto tour loop at Bear River MBR.

Surprise Merlin Photos – Two Merlins In A Pear Tree

By |2024-02-15T04:48:47-06:00February 15th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Merlins, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was at one of my local ponds yesterday morning when a gorgeous adult female Merlin flew in and landed on a tree not far from where I stood behind my tripod.

Show Your Love – Don’t Let Balloons Go

By |2024-02-14T04:51:57-06:00February 14th, 2024|Categories: Conservation, Environment, Miscellaneous, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last Sunday I went to some local spots to look for birds. As I was driving, I saw four mylar balloons stuck in some shrubs near the Jordan River. My heart sank.

Canada Geese On The Bear River

By |2024-02-13T04:45:17-06:00February 13th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Canada Geese, Utah, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning, at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, I took a short video of Canada Geese in the road while I was on the north side of the auto tour loop.

Male Great-tailed Grackle On A February Morning

By |2024-03-17T16:57:41-05:00February 12th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Great-tailed Grackles, San Juan County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This male Great-tailed Grackle caught my eye two days ago at one of my local ponds because he was displaying on a red-roofed cupola against a bright blue sky.

Urban American Coot Close Up Photos

By |2024-02-11T05:30:13-06:00February 11th, 2024|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Because it was a bright, sunny day yesterday morning, I went down to my local ponds. I photographed an American Coot munching on frosty grass near one of them.

Young Red-tailed Hawk Up Close

By |2024-02-10T07:41:25-06:00February 10th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The day I photographed this young Red-tailed Hawk, I took 135 images of the immature raptor in just a little over a minute at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

More Greater White-fronted Goose Images

By |2024-02-09T06:07:35-06:00February 9th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Greater White-fronted Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning, I wanted to share more of my Greater White-fronted Goose images I took six days ago. I haven't gone through all of my photos of this goose yet.

American Bison Whispering Secrets

By |2024-02-08T04:40:46-06:00February 8th, 2024|Categories: American Bison, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning I'm sharing a photo of an American Bison that appeared to be whispering secrets to another bison that I photographed on Antelope Island State Park.

Tundra Swans And Precious Memories

By |2024-02-07T04:46:41-06:00February 7th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Tundra Swans and memories are on my mind this morning. Six years ago, I sat in my Jeep watching hundreds of Tundra Swans at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

Ten Greater White-fronted Goose Photos

By |2024-02-09T03:42:01-06:00February 4th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Greater White-fronted Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was out running errands yesterday when I found a Greater White-fronted Goose. I drove home to grab my gear so I could photograph this 'specklebelly' goose.

Great Blue Heron And Reflection On The Bear River

By |2024-02-03T05:49:51-06:00February 3rd, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today, I'm sharing a simple Great Blue Heron photo I took late last month at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I liked the heron's reflection on the Bear River.

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World Wetlands Day And Utah’s Abysmal Protections Of Them

By |2024-02-02T06:03:36-06:00February 2nd, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Conservation, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Juab County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today is World Wetlands Day, and we need to protect and preserve our wetlands. Wetlands provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and social benefits.

Seeking Refuge At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |2024-02-01T05:43:16-06:00February 1st, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On January 30th, I spent my morning seeking refuge at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Mother Nature supplied the refuge I sought with grand, gorgeous views.

Bald Eagle On A Leaning Post Plus Trees With The Earth Shadow And Belt Of Venus

By |2024-01-31T11:14:06-06:00January 31st, 2024|Categories: Bald Eagles, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I was up at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge yesterday, I photographed a Bald Eagle on a leaning post, plus trees with the Earth Shadow and Belt of Venus.

Western Meadowlarks At Farmington Bay WMA

By |2024-01-30T04:25:56-06:00January 30th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, Western Meadowlarks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Much like the Great Blue Herons I shared yesterday, the Western Meadowlarks I found at Farmington Bay WMA two days ago were also behaving as if it were spring.

Great Blue Herons At The Farmington Bay WMA Rookery

By |2024-01-29T05:24:02-06:00January 29th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Conservation, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning, I was surprised to find Great Blue Herons already at the nests of the rookery at Farmington Bay WMA. There were more than twenty herons.

Pied-billed Grebe – From A Distance And Up Close

By |2024-01-28T05:08:16-06:00January 28th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Pied-billed Grebes, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I was out enjoying some sunshine yesterday morning, I photographed an adult Pied-billed Grebe from a distance and up close at one of my local ponds.

I’m Still Looking For This Leucistic American Coot

By |2024-01-26T13:36:50-06:00January 26th, 2024|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Rarities, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I remember feeling very thrilled when I found this leucistic American Coot on January 2, 2023. I'd been hoping to find a leucistic coot for quite a long time.

Ring-billed Gull Flying In Heavy Fog

By |2024-01-25T05:21:25-06:00January 25th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Ring-billed Gulls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Once upon a time, in a marsh not so far away, I photographed a Ring-billed Gull flying in heavy fog. It was the densest fog I have ever photographed in.

Rough-legged Hawk On A No Swimming Sign

By |2024-01-24T06:48:09-06:00January 24th, 2024|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While looking for a photo to share this morning I found this immature Rough-legged Hawk on a No Swimming Sign with the snowy Wasatch Mountains in the background.

American Crow Nictitating Membrane Images

By |2024-01-22T05:22:03-06:00January 22nd, 2024|Categories: American Crows, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning, I'm sharing three portraits of an American Crow, two of which include the very pale, nearly icy-blue nictitating membrane that these crows have.

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