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.

Trio Of Brown Birds from Antelope Island

By |June 29th, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Burrowing Owls, Davis County, Mourning Doves, Utah, Western Meadowlarks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The heat of summer has turned the green grasses brown on Antelope Island State Park so I thought I'd share some of the "brown birds" I photographed there yesterday.

More Fun with Burrowing Owls and the Dangers of Barbed Wire

By |June 25th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Burrowing Owls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I spent yesterday morning photographing Burrowing Owls in northern Utah again and while most of it was fun there was something I found that broke my heart.

Morning Spent At A Burrowing Owl Burrow

By |June 23rd, 2015|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Burrowing Owls, Northern Harriers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last week I posted an image of Burrowing Owl siblings that I found in northern Utah and today I am posting images of that burrow after spending yesterday morning being delighted by them once more.

Pronghorn Fawns Cause Me Cuteness Overload

By |June 22nd, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Pronghorn, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I can't resist Pronghorn fawns, well maybe I can, but I don't want to and won't! I saw three fawns close together yesterday on Antelope Island State Park and they put me into cuteness overload.

Uinta Ground Squirrels of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

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

Uinta Ground Squirrels are the most plentiful mammals I see during the summer months in the Centennial Valley.

Wilson’s Phalarope And A Midge At Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

By |June 16th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Midges, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Wilson's Phalaropes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my recent trip to Idaho and Montana I didn't have many opportunities with Wilson's Phalaropes except for one at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge's Lower Lake.

Field of Wildflowers and a Sandhill Crane in the Centennial Valley

By |June 15th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Sandhill Cranes, Wildflowers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

I always think of Sandhill Cranes whenever my thoughts drift to the Centennial Valley of Montana where I always hear their calls, see them in the fields or in flight over the marshes.

The Demise of the Magical Sapsucker Tree and the Luck of Finding More Nesting Cavity Trees

By |June 14th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Clark County, Idaho, Northern House Wrens, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Targhee National Forest|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I am heart-broken about losing the Magical Sapsucker Tree but I am glad to have found a few more where the chicks are thriving and are safe so far.

Wonderful Photo Session with a White-crowned Sparrow

By |June 13th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, White-crowned Sparrows|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday was bright and sunny in the Centennial Valley and after hearing this White-crowned Sparrow singing I felt like breaking out in song too.

Cassin’s Finches of the Centennial Valley of Montana

By |June 12th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Cassin's Finches, Centennial Valley, Montana|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Cassin's Finch males look to me like they have been dipped in raspberry juice and that color is very vibrant especially in sweet light.

A Wet and Bedraggled Swainson’s Hawk

By |June 11th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Swainson's Hawks|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was rainy yesterday evening in southwestern Montana and eastern Idaho but that didn't stop me from getting this image of a wet and bedraggled Swainson's Hawk in the Centennial Valley.

Pair Of Coyotes And The Healing Journey of One

By |June 8th, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Coyotes, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Any day that I see a Coyote is a great one, seeing a pair of them it is even greater and yesterday I photographed a pair of coyotes I am very familiar with.

Female Yellow-headed Blackbirds

By |June 7th, 2015|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Female Yellow-headed Blackbirds are often overlooked by casual viewers and bird photographers because they aren't as flashy as the males.

Willow Flycatcher On Antelope Island

By |June 5th, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Utah, Willow Flycatchers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Early last week while photographing Western Kingbirds I also had the opportunity to photograph a Willow Flycatcher that was hanging around the same area on Antelope Island State Park.

Western Kingbirds On The Wing

By |June 1st, 2015|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Utah, Western Kingbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had fun photographing Western Kingbirds again yesterday on Antelope Island State Park and hours later I was still hearing their calls in my mind.

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