Davis County | on the wing photography

Any day now…

By Mia McPherson, on March 27th, 2012%

Barn Owl in flight - Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

In early spring after Barn Owl (Tyto alba) chicks have hatched there are opportunities here in Utah to see the adult owls hunting just after dawn breaks. Barn Owls are primarily nocturnal but when they have hungry chicks to feed they will hunt later in the morning and earlier in the evening than they do when they don’t have young which gives me wonderful opportunities me to photograph them in natural light.

Because we have had an earlier spring than normal the Barn Owls here may be slightly ahead of their normal cycle so I have been keeping an eye out for them. Any day now…

Mia

Side lit Coyote

By Mia McPherson, on March 24th, 2012%

Sidelit Coyote - Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or called in

Last November I spotted this Coyote (Canis latrans) wandering in some dried vegetation close to a roadside. Although the lighting wasn’t optimal; meaning that the sun wasn’t directly behind me, I wanted to take some photos of the Coyote because I liked the rim lighting on the right side of the Coyote’s neck, muzzle and ears. Even though the setting is rather busy the Coyote stands out well and I like the direct look I appear to be getting from it.

Mia

More Coyote images

Raccoon on the mudflats

By Mia McPherson, on March 14th, 2012%

When I lived in Florida I saw Raccoons (Procyon lotor) all over the state. In the wild, the not so wild and in the streets of the cities. But that isn’t how it is in Utah. I’ve been here nearly 3 years and I can count the times I have seen Raccoons on four fingertips.

Raccoon on the mudflats - Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 357mm, natural light, not baited

Last month on the way to Antelope Island I spotted a large brown furball scurrying across the nearly frozen mudflats on the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake and to my surprise it was a Raccoon. It stopped long enough to hunch its back and give me a direct stare before it headed north towards a strand of Phragmites in a marshy area. Not a great picture but it is one that makes me smile. I love the muddy tracks at the bottom of the frame.

Mia

Rough-legged Hawks – Is it time to say goodbye?

By Mia McPherson, on February 26th, 2012%

I have had such amazing experiences with Rough-legged Hawks this winter. I’ve captured them in flight, preening, eating, hovering, kiting, resting and so much more. During my peak observations I was seeing 20+ while out in the field but their numbers have been dropping fast the past few weeks. Now I might see one for the whole day.

Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) keeping an eye on the sky
Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up

I’ve been able to get close to the Roughies and learn more about them by observing their behavior, watching their movements and to savor their beautiful plumage colors and patterns. The hawk above was watching something in the sky.

Rough-legged Hawk fly by
Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x Tc at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up

This Rough-legged Hawk gave me an up close and personal fly by. They have gorgeous eyes.

Preening Rough-legged Hawk
Nikon D300, f9, 1/640, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x Tc at 400mm, natural light, not baited or set up

I have been fortunate to see and photograph them while preening in wonderful light.

Rough-legged Hawk lifting off from the ground
Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 285mm, natural light, not baited or set up

I have watched them lift off with those long, powerful wings to soar in the sky. I’ve learned a lot about these beautiful raptors this winter and I’ll miss them this summer.

It does appear that they are making their way back to their breeding grounds high in the Arctic Circle. I hope that they have another great nesting season and that I will see them again this coming winter. They have been such a joy.

Mia

More Rough-legged Hawk images

Common Raven in flight

By Mia McPherson, on February 23rd, 2012%

I’ve struggled to get close to Common Ravens here in Utah, mostly they are in bad light or are too skittish to get close enough to nearly fill the frame but I was able to get some flight shots this morning.

Common Raven (Corvus corax) in flight ~ Davis County, Utah
Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 400, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Ravens have always appealed to me even though some people might consider them “plain black birds”. One of the reason I like them so much is that they are very smart and among the most intelligent birds in the world. I also love the iridescence that sometimes shows in their plumage plus Common Ravens are great fun to observe and to photograph.

This bird was one of a pair that flew close enough to me to get some nice, nearly frame filling images of them with the Wasatch Mountain Range in the background.

Mia