Photographer and Author

About Mia McPherson

I'm Mia McPherson. I became seriously passionate about bird photography while living in Florida. After my move West in 2009 I spent much of my time photographing birds in Utah, Idaho, Montana, and beyond. Now I photograph in primarily in east central Oklahoma and Arkansas. 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.

Focusing On American Herring Gulls – Winter Visitors To Northern Utah

By |January 9th, 2020|Categories: American Herring Gulls, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I know some people don't get excited about gulls but I do and I was thrilled two days ago at Bear River MBR when I spotted and photographed my first Herring Gulls of this winter season.

Photographing Great Blue Herons On The Frozen Marshes Of Bear River MBR

By |January 8th, 2020|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I spent time focusing on photographing Great Blue Herons on the frozen marshes of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

Male American Kestrels At Bear River MBR

By |January 7th, 2020|Categories: American Kestrels, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While this male American Kestrel struggled to maintain his grip on the thin branches of the Tamarisk I struggled to keep him in my viewfinder.

Hooded Merganser Drake – A One Day Opportunity

By |January 5th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Hooded Mergansers, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In December I had eight minutes and twenty-four seconds to photograph this Hooded Merganser drake and every time I have gone to the local pond after that I have looked for him to be there again.

High Key Male Belted Kingfisher

By |January 3rd, 2020|Categories: Belted Kingfishers, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday there was a bit of light in the morning so I went to see if there were any birds that could be photographed at my local ponds and I was delighted when I heard the rattling call of a Belted Kingfisher.

My First Birds of 2020 – American Crows In A Grocery Store Parking Lot

By |January 2nd, 2020|Categories: American Crows, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I always get excited about what the first bird will be that I see at the beginning of the new year and for two years in a row now my first birds of the year have been American Crows.

Ferruginous Hawks in Utah

By |December 26th, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Ferruginous Hawks, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Knowing what kind of habitat Ferruginous Hawks prefer during all four seasons here in northern Utah can increase the chances of finding them year round.

Christmas Morning Snowfall

By |December 25th, 2019|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Jordan River Parkway Trail, Peregrine Falcons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It is still dark here in northern Utah but I can tell there is some fresh snow on the ground so I guess that makes this a white Christmas even if the white stuff melts before the sun comes up over the mountains.

Time For Winter Bald Eagle Photography In Northern Utah

By |December 23rd, 2019|Categories: Bald Eagles, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

So if you don't enjoy the craziness that can happen at Farmington Bay WMA when the Bald Eagles arrive for the winter just pick an area and go for a relaxed drive to another location.

An Immature Rough-legged Hawk Hunting For Prey At Bear River MBR

By |December 21st, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Two days ago when I stopped counting Rough-legged Hawks while at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge the number had topped out at fifteen.

Split Second Eye Contact With An Immature Northern Harrier

By |December 20th, 2019|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Northern Harriers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Two frames later the immature Northern Harrier tilted its head, looked directly towards my lens, and seemed to eyeball me and my gear.

Female American Kestrel On A Crabapple Tree Near The Jordan River

By |December 17th, 2019|Categories: American Kestrels, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was delighted when I spotted this female American Kestrel perched high on a crabapple tree next to a road near the Jordan River and pleased that she stuck around for a few photos.

I Should Have Listened To My Instincts Yesterday

By |December 16th, 2019|Categories: American Barn Owls, Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Short-eared Owls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I might have taken some wonderful photos of birds in nice light yesterday if I had only listened to my instincts and gone out to look for birds.

Portrait Of An Adult White-crowned Sparrow Eating Greasewood Seeds

By |December 13th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, White-crowned Sparrows|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I look at this White-crowned Sparrow portrait I can count the orbital feathers of the bottom portion of the bird's eye and the rictal bristles near the bill.

Go to Top