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.

Greater Yellowlegs at Farmington Bay

By |September 26th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Greater Yellowlegs, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've been able to photograph several shorebird species the past week and although Greater Yellowlegs are common at Farmington Bay WMA I still think they are quite lovely.

A Lifer for Me – Pectoral Sandpiper at Farmington Bay WMA

By |September 25th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Pectoral Sandpipers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It isn't every day that I add a lifer to the list of shorebirds I have seen and photographed but yesterday I did when I saw and photographed a Pectoral Sandpiper.

The First Day of Autumn and the Heat is On in Utah

By |September 23rd, 2015|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Environment, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Ring-necked Pheasants, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

After a long, hot summer I always look forward to the first day of autumn because it usually means cooler temperatures along with the scenery becoming more colorful as the leaves begin to turn.

Fishing American White Pelican at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |September 20th, 2015|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

This American White Pelican image was taken in July near the auto tour loop at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and I like how it shows the pelican fishing for food.

Trumpeter Swan Cygnets and Preening, Pin Feathers and Molt

By |September 18th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Trumpeter Swans|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In my last post on the Trumpeter Swan Cygnets On Elk Lake I mentioned that the cygnets spent a lot of time preening and part of the reason they do is they are molting.

Crepuscular Rays and Watercolor Skies at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

By |September 17th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

My focus is usually birds and animals but as many of you know I also can't resist taking images of the beautiful views I see such as these two views of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge last week.

Juvenile Swainson’s Hawk stretching its wings

By |September 16th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had wanted to post this photo of a juvenile Swainson's Hawk last week from Montana but because my cell signal was so cruddy I didn't get this image uploaded.

Trumpeter Swan Cygnets On Elk Lake

By |September 12th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Birds, Montana, Trumpeter Swans|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I am totally enamored by Trumpeter Swans, they are not only graceful and beautiful but the adults seem like such caring parents and keep an ever watchful eye on their young.

A Tragic Sight To See – American Barn Owl Caught On Barb Wire

By |September 10th, 2015|Categories: American Barn Owls, Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I saw a sight that made me ill to see and that is a Barn Owl hung up on a barb wire fence on the south side of the Centennial Valley.

Bathing Ruddy Turnstone

By |September 7th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Ruddy Turnstones|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

About half the world's shorebird populations are in decline and with climate change and rising sea levels habitat loss is happening at a faster rate than ever before.

A Pronghorn Buck, Wild Sunflowers And The Great Salt Lake

By |September 4th, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Pronghorn, Utah, Wildflowers, Wildlife|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

As many of my readers know I like to take portraits of the birds and animals I photograph but I also like to take images that show my subjects smaller in their native habitat.

Welcome September…

By |September 1st, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Beaverhead County, Birds, Black Skimmers, Box Elder County, Cliff Lake, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Madison County, Montana, Pinellas County, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The first day of September signals to me that cooler weather is arriving so I took a look back at some of the images I have taken in September from 2008 on.

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