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.

Singing Red-winged Blackbird Male

By |2023-03-04T04:07:05-06:00March 4th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Bird ID, Box Elder County, Red-winged Blackbirds, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

After my long and photo heavy Tundra Swan post yesterday I am keeping my post today simple. I'm sharing a single photo of a singing Red-winged Blackbird male.

Big & Beautiful: Tundra Swans of Bear River MBR

By |2024-02-05T03:22:54-06:00March 3rd, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I spent time with a flock of big, beautiful Tundra Swans at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I loved every moment that I had with the swans.

Wings Over People: My Love for Bird Photography

By |2023-09-09T07:56:01-05:00March 2nd, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Ring-billed Gulls, Rough-legged Hawks, Salt Lake County, San Juan County, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , |

This could also be titled "Why I prefer to bird photography over people photography" and I will explain why this morning.

Hen Common Merganser At Bear River MBR

By |2023-03-01T08:05:41-06:00March 1st, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Common Mergansers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last month I photographed this hen Common Merganser in a small spot of open water next to an ice shelf at Bear River MBR. It was a very cold morning.

Young Bald Eagle Looking Fierce

By |2024-02-06T03:17:09-06:00February 28th, 2023|Categories: Bald Eagles, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today I'm sharing a photo of a young Bald Eagle who was looking mighty fierce while perched on a power pole that I took last February on a very cold morning.

Just Weeks Away From Taking Uinta Ground Squirrel Photos

By |2023-02-27T06:19:10-06:00February 27th, 2023|Categories: Summit County, Uinta Ground Squirrels, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In just about five weeks I should be able to take my first of year Uinta Ground Squirrel photos up in the sage-covered, grassy parts of the Wasatch Mountains.

Migrating Sandhill Cranes On The Wing

By |2023-02-25T15:39:53-06:00February 25th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I heard through the grapevine that Sandhill Cranes have returned to Farmington Bay WMA. Since the cranes are there they might be at other Utah locations too.

West Desert Western Bluebird Memory

By |2023-02-24T05:05:07-06:00February 24th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert, Western Bluebirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning I am sharing a Western Bluebird memory from seven years ago. That day I found small flock of these colorful bluebirds in the West Desert.

Male Red-winged Blackbird Foraging In Grasses

By |2023-03-03T19:22:28-06:00February 23rd, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Red-winged Blackbirds, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

After a very busy day yesterday, I decided to share a simple photo this morning of a male Red-winged Blackbird foraging in grasses at Farmington Bay WMA.

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Coming Soon: Great-tailed Grackle Breeding Season

By |2023-02-21T03:48:56-06:00February 21st, 2023|Categories: Birds, Great-tailed Grackles, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On two of my most recent walks I have seen Great-tailed Grackles. Seeing them reminded me that Great-tailed Grackle breeding season is coming soon.

Great Blue Heron On Ice – Small In Frame

By |2023-11-03T02:18:04-05:00February 20th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last week I had the opportunity to photograph a Great Blue Heron on the ice at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, where the heron was small in the frame.

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Luminous Snow-covered Promontory Mountains

By |2023-02-19T11:26:50-06:00February 19th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I was driving to the auto tour loop at Bear River MBR last week, I stopped to take photos of the luminous, snow-covered Promontory Mountains.

Canada Geese Courtship: A Prelude To Spring

By |2023-02-18T04:45:52-06:00February 18th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Canada Geese, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

February might seem early but I'm already noticing that Canada Geese are pairing up at Bear River MBR which is a prelude to the arrival of spring.

Dapper Drake Common Merganser At Bear River MBR

By |2023-02-18T03:31:36-06:00February 17th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Common Mergansers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today I am sharing photos of a dapper drake Common Merganser in his finest breeding plumage that I took four mornings ago at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

Great Blue Heron Slip Slidin’ Away

By |2023-02-16T04:41:36-06:00February 16th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Earlier this week, I visited Bear River MBR and had a fantastic time capturing photographs of birds sliding on the ice. This included an adult Great Blue Heron.

Great Goldeneye-Merganser Showdown: Who Won the Shad?

By |2023-02-15T03:03:56-06:00February 15th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Common Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my last trip to Bear River MBR I saw and photographed a Goldeneye-Merganser showdown where the prize that was being fought over was a shiny shad.

Perky Song Sparrow On A Greasewood Perch

By |2023-02-13T04:36:29-06:00February 13th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Song Sparrows, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last Friday I had a few seconds to photograph a perky Song Sparrow perched on a greasewood at Farmington Bay WMA just before I started to head towards home.

Female American Kestrel Get Off My Lawn Look

By |2023-02-12T08:09:44-06:00February 12th, 2023|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I viewed this American Kestrel photo my first thought was if this isn't a "get off my lawn look" then I have never seen a get off my lawn look from anyone.

Murder Of American Crows Calling

By |2023-08-31T05:55:25-05:00February 11th, 2023|Categories: American Crows, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

To my delight, I heard and saw hundreds of American Crows at Farmington Bay WMA on my visit there early yesterday morning. The crows were great company. 

The European Starling: A Tale of Two Continents

By |2023-02-10T07:11:25-06:00February 10th, 2023|Categories: Birds, European Starlings, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Three days ago, I took this photo of a European Starling perched on top of a crabapple tree with a brilliant blue winter sky in the background at a city park.

Frosty American Robin Photos

By |2023-02-08T05:08:40-06:00February 8th, 2023|Categories: American Robins, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I spent a little bit of time yesterday taking American Robin photos on frosty grass. The robins were feasting on ripe crabapples that have fallen to the ground.

Bear River MBR: Winter Haven For Tundra Swans

By |2023-02-07T06:42:36-06:00February 7th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had hoped that this morning would be sunny so I could head to Bear River MBR to see, listen to, and photograph Tundra Swans on the marshes.

Driftwood Guardian: Rough-legged Hawk

By |2023-02-06T05:01:35-06:00February 6th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I stopped to take photos of an adult male Rough-legged Hawk perched on a driftwood snag over the Bear River when I was leaving Bear River MBR four days ago.

Leaning Post Bald Eagle

By |2024-02-06T04:08:26-06:00February 4th, 2023|Categories: Bald Eagles, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

After my recent visit to Bear River MBR I wanted to share photos of a Bald Eagle on a leaning post that can be seen from the road leading to the auto tour loop.

My Shadow Plus The Wild Beauty of Bear River MBR

By |2024-01-31T19:24:49-06:00February 3rd, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning while it was still dark I bundled up and drove up to soak in the wild beauty of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I am so glad that I went.

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