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.

Using My “Noodle” for Bird & Animal Photography

By |June 30th, 2011|Categories: Styles & Methods, Using a Noodle|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The process of making a Noodle to use as a window mounted photographic aid when using a vehicle as a mobile blind. Now that is using my Noodle!

Short-eared Owls – An Interesting Surprise

By |June 29th, 2011|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Short-eared Owls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Soon after that I saw the shape of a larger bird near where the Coyote had gone into the sagebrush which turned out to be an adult Short-eared Owl.

Newborn Pronghorn Fawn

By |June 19th, 2011|Categories: Beaverhead County, Centennial Valley, Montana, Pronghorn, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Seeing this newborn Pronghorn is one of those experiences that I will never forget. I already think that Pronghorn young are the cutest furry baby mammals on the planet.

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge – Rockin’ Weather

By |June 19th, 2011|Categories: Beaverhead County, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While at the refuge it rained, it hailed, there was thunder, lighting and at times even gale force winds but the biggest weather surprise after leaving the refuge was seeing snow falling lightly near Lima, MT... in June.

American Oystercatchers

By |June 14th, 2011|Categories: American Oystercatchers, Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

American Oystercatchers are fascinating birds to photograph, They can strike unusual poses and their plumage is spectacular in flight. I enjoyed watching them pry open bivalves with their long bill

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Killdeer and Willets – Territorial Disputes

By |June 4th, 2011|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Killdeer, Utah, Willets|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One of the habits I have developed after becoming a serious bird photographer is observing and learning about bird behavior and the habitats

Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge – another favorite location

By |May 29th, 2011|Categories: Birds, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Juab County, Pronghorn, Simpson Springs, Tooele County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

After a recent journey from Simpson Springs in Tooele County to Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge in Juab County I have added it as a Favorite Location. It was an amazing trip with gorgeous views. I hope to return there soon.

It has only been 4 days? Really?

By |May 19th, 2011|Categories: Birds, Clark's Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants, Jordan River Parkway Trail, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

For days it has been raining (sometimes hailing), cloudy and a miserable gray here in the Salt Lake Valley though it seems like two weeks to this bird photographer.

Northern Harrier in Low Light

By |May 16th, 2011|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Northern Harriers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I don't mind the motion blur in these images and because northern harriers hunt by looking down at the ground for their prey I was very happy to get eye contact in both frames.

Midges And Birds – Food For Thought

By |May 14th, 2011|Categories: American Avocets, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Cliff Swallows, Marsh Wrens, Midges, Utah, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This is the time of the year that "midges" are as thick as flies on you-know-what at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

Antelope Island Gnats Are Back

By |May 9th, 2011|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Horned Larks, Mule Deer, Utah, Willets|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

I hereby put the millions of biting gnats on Antelope Island on notice: No matter how many times you break through my insect repellent shield, I am still going to photograph birds on Antelope Island.

Nesting Northern Harrier

By |May 7th, 2011|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Northern Harriers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Tt was the first time that I have ever seen a Northern Harrier building a nest. It more than made my day!

California Gulls – The 1848 Heroes of Utah’s Pioneers

By |April 26th, 2011|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Huge flocks of California Gulls allegedly descended onto the grasshoppers in the valley and made tasty meals of the insects thus preventing the total loss of the crops as the story is told.

Black-tailed Jackrabbit – A Hare Nervous?

By |April 24th, 2011|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Black-tailed Jackrabbits, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Black-tailed Jackrabbit arched its back while still keeping an eye on me and I thought the arched back looked very similar to a domestic cat when it gets riled up or frightened about something.

Antelope Island State Park – Spring’s Awakening

By |April 23rd, 2011|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Coyotes, Loggerhead Shrikes, Long-billed Curlews, Pronghorn, Utah, Wildflowers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've spent a few days out on Antelope Island State Park this past week and from all appearances spring is making its debut.

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