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.

First Of Season Common Goldeneye

By |2023-11-28T04:33:03-07:00November 28th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Common Goldeneyes, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Three days ago, I found my first-of-season Common Goldeneye drake at my local pond. I didn't have my camera with me, so I wasn't able to photograph him.

Winter Black-crowned Night Heron In Flight

By |2023-11-27T04:28:58-07:00November 27th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While going through my archives this morning, I found this photo of a Black-crowned Night Heron in flight. It was taken in the marsh at Farmington Bay WMA in 2021.

Canada Geese In Falling Snow

By |2023-11-25T03:52:03-07:00November 25th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Canada Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday I desperately needed a bird break so I went down to my local pond. While I was there I photographed Canada Geese and American Coots in falling snow.

Dark Morph Ferruginous Hawk In The West Desert

By |2023-11-24T04:42:58-07:00November 24th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Ferruginous Hawks, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Four years ago today, I found this gorgeous dark morph Ferruginous Hawk perched on a juniper fence post in the West Desert. I spotted it from about a mile away.

Fall Redhead Drake Photos

By |2023-11-23T04:00:29-07:00November 23rd, 2023|Categories: Birds, Redheads, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On a cold morning two days ago, I had two Redhead drakes in my viewfinder at my local pond. the light was lovely and so were the ducks.

Drake Hooded Merganser Memory

By |2023-11-21T04:45:56-07:00November 21st, 2023|Categories: Birds, Hooded Mergansers, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Once upon a chilly December evening, I had a blast photographing a stunning drake Hooded Merganser in gorgeous light at an urban pond close to home.

My Solitaire Common Name Change Recommendation

By |2023-11-20T05:02:29-07:00November 20th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Tooele County, Townsend's Solitaires, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In 2024, the common name for Townsend's Solitaire will change, along with many other bird names. My recommendation would be to rename it the Juniper Solitaire.

Box Elder Seeds And Water Birch Leaves

By |2023-11-19T04:41:53-07:00November 19th, 2023|Categories: Box Elders, Salt Lake County, Utah, Water Birch|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I'm sharing two photos this morning: one of Box Elder Maple seeds and another of Water Birch leaves that I took last autumn while on walks close to home.

Autumn Snipe Photos And Common Name Changes

By |2023-11-17T12:13:02-07:00November 17th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Wilson's Snipes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The last time I visited Bear River MBR, I took quite a few photos of Wilson's Snipes. I also wondered what the new name for this snipe species will soon be.

Common Raven Pair At Bear River MBR

By |2023-11-12T04:28:00-07:00November 12th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Common Ravens, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On at least my last three trips up to Bear River MBR, I have found a Common Raven pair in the same general area of the north side of the auto tour route.

Eared And Horned Grebe Nonbreeding Plumage Comparison

By |2024-03-14T06:55:05-06:00November 11th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Bird ID, Birds, Box Elder County, Eared Grebes, Horned Grebes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning, I wanted to share an Eared and Horned Grebe nonbreeding plumage comparison. Why? Because, at this time of year, I can see both species.

Time To See And Hear Tundra Swans

By |2023-11-14T02:57:40-07:00November 10th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Now is a great time to see and hear Tundra Swans from the marshes at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I saw several large flocks of them yesterday from there.

Great Blue Heron Photos In Winter

By |2023-11-08T10:56:11-07:00November 8th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

If you want to take Great Blue Heron photos in winter, on snow and ice, then head to Bear River MBR in Utah after the marsh freezes and the snow starts to fall.

Fall White-faced Ibis Images

By |2023-11-07T03:41:36-07:00November 7th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, White-faced Ibises|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my last trip to Bear River MBR, I was able to take images of this White-faced Ibis preening, leaning, and walking in the wetlands next to the auto tour loop.

Male Red-winged Blackbird And A Saltcedar

By |2023-11-05T04:25:00-07:00November 5th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Red-winged Blackbirds, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I saw this male Red-winged Blackbird perched in a Saltcedar on my last trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and felt I had to stop to photograph him.

American Pipit In Frosted Grasses

By |2023-11-04T04:41:53-06:00November 4th, 2023|Categories: American Pipits, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last Monday, when I photographed this American Pipit at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in frosted grasses, I had several thoughts whirling around in my mind.

Great Blue Heron In A Natural Alcove

By |2023-11-03T02:32:10-06:00November 3rd, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One of my favorite photos from my trip to Bear River MBR last Monday was of this Great Blue Heron in a natural alcove along the bank of the Bear River.

Western Meadowlark Amusement

By |2023-11-02T03:28:19-06:00November 2nd, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Western Meadowlarks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Photographing this Western Meadowlark on Monday on my way back to I-15 from Bear River MBR was so much fun for me that it probably ought to be illegal.

Interesting Pied-billed Grebe Faux Crash-Dive Behavior

By |2023-11-01T04:20:47-06:00November 1st, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Pied-billed Grebes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had a great time observing and photographing a Pied-billed Grebe exhibiting Crash-dive behavior at Bear River MBR from the auto tour loop on Monday.

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