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.

Close Up Rock Squirrel At Home Yesterday

By |2023-10-03T05:19:32-05:00October 3rd, 2023|Categories: Rock Squirrels, Salt Lake County, Utah, Wildlife|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday, during a light rain, I looked out of my living room window, and to my surprise, I had a close-up view of a Rock Squirrel right next to the house.

Female House Finch In Sunflowers Gone To Seed

By |2023-10-02T04:38:11-05:00October 2nd, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, House Finches, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was tickled to photograph this female House Finch last week in sunflowers that had gone to seed. I liked the finch, the autumn colors, and the morning light.

Fall Great Blue Heron Flasher

By |2023-09-29T05:19:11-05:00September 29th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Earlier this week, I found this adult Great Blue Heron in a Flasher pose while resting on a human-made nest in a pond at Farmington Bay WMA in northern Utah.

Male Lesser Goldfinch Under A Leafy Umbrella

By |2023-09-28T03:32:21-05:00September 28th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Lesser Goldfinches, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Having fast reflexes and being able to stop my Jeep quickly helped me photograph this male Lesser Goldfinch under a leafy umbrella three days ago.

Interior West White-crowned Sparrow Adult

By |2023-09-27T05:20:58-05:00September 27th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, White-crowned Sparrows|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I was at Farmington Bay WMA on Monday, I found and photographed a gorgeous Interior West White-crowned Sparrow adult perched on a Greasewood shrub.

Snowy Egret In Marsh Morning Light

By |2023-09-28T05:06:23-05:00September 26th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Snowy Egrets, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One of the first birds I photographed this autumn was this fluffed-up Snowy Egret glowing in a natural spotlight in the marsh at Farmington Bay WMA.

Cabbage White Butterfly Photos

By |2023-09-23T05:13:32-05:00September 23rd, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Cabbage White Butterflies, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning, I'm sharing a few photos of male Cabbage White butterflies and Common Sunflowers that I took last Sunday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

Late Summer Barn Swallow Delight

By |2023-09-22T05:09:25-05:00September 22nd, 2023|Categories: Barn Swallows, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was thoroughly delighted to capture several late summer Barn Swallow photos during my last trip to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I was truly thrilled.

Late Summer Baby Pied-billed Grebes

By |2023-09-22T03:52:02-05:00September 20th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Pied-billed Grebes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my most recent trip to Bear River MBR, I had a huge thrill. I found four baby Pied-billed Grebes still in their striped juvenile plumage in the marsh.

American White Pelican And Golden Light

By |2023-09-18T04:30:00-05:00September 18th, 2023|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning, at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, the first bird I photographed was an adult American White Pelican in early morning golden light.

Yellow Warbler And Golden Quaking Aspen Leaves

By |2023-09-17T05:10:35-05:00September 17th, 2023|Categories: Birds, East Canyon, Morgan County, Quaking Aspens, Utah, Wasatch Mountains, Yellow Warblers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Three years ago today, I was up in the Wasatch Mountains, focused on a bright Yellow Warbler snugly nestled in a hawthorn tree on a hillside.

Young Song Sparrow at Farmington Bay WMA

By |2023-09-16T15:13:01-05:00September 16th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Song Sparrows, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I was visiting Farmington Bay WMA last week, a young Song Sparrow showed up in my viewfinder and perched in a greasewood shrub for a few moments.

Male Variegated Meadowhawk Dragonfly Photos

By |2023-09-14T05:28:14-05:00September 14th, 2023|Categories: Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, Variegated Meadowhawk, Wildlife|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I last visited Farmington Bay WMA, I found flights of Variegated Meadowhawk dragonflies on the wing and resting, near and on Goose Egg Island.

Adult Eurasian Collared-Dove

By |2023-09-13T04:19:11-05:00September 13th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Eurasian Collared-Doves, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday, I shared some Mourning Dove photos taken at Farmington Bay WMA. Today, my subject is a Eurasian Collared-Dove also photographed on the same day.

One Chonky American Goldfinch

By |2023-09-11T04:17:36-05:00September 11th, 2023|Categories: American Goldfinches, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I was at Farmington Bay WMA last week, I had a chonky American Goldfinch fly in and land on a greasewood in front of me. Of course, I took photos of it.

Nature Center Parking Lot Lesser Goldfinch

By |2023-09-10T04:45:06-05:00September 10th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Lesser Goldfinches, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I photographed this Lesser Goldfinch from the nature center parking lot of Farmington Bay WMA last week. Would you have known that if I hadn't mentioned it?

Jagged Ambush Bug Pictures

By |2023-09-09T08:33:09-05:00September 9th, 2023|Categories: Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Jagged Ambush Bugs, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my last trip to Farmington Bay WMA, I stopped to photograph wild Common Sunflowers near the nature center and spotted a Jagged Ambush Bug on one of them.

Late Summer Long-tailed Weasel Photos

By |2023-10-17T03:31:44-05:00September 8th, 2023|Categories: Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Long-tailed Weasels, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was super excited to take Long-tailed Weasel photos yesterday morning while I was looking for birds to photograph at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area.

I Heard Barred Owl Calls Last Night

By |2023-09-07T06:10:03-05:00September 7th, 2023|Categories: Barred Owls, Birds, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last night, around 9 p.m., I listened to Barred Owl calls. Before Utah birders get excited, I heard those calls courtesy of my niece, Kristal, from Virginia.

Native Common Hops In The Wasatch Mountains

By |2023-09-06T05:20:13-05:00September 6th, 2023|Categories: East Canyon, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my last trip into the Wasatch Mountains, the first thing I photographed was Common Hops near a creek in East Canyon, Morgan County.

Thoughts Of My Mom and A Downy Woodpecker

By |2023-09-05T05:30:01-05:00September 5th, 2023|Categories: Arkansas, Birds, Downy Woodpeckers, Sebastian County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday, my window was open. It was a rainy, dreary day, and I found myself inexplicably feeling down. I heard the distinctive calls of a Downy Woodpecker.

Sunflower Photos On A Rainy Morning

By |2023-09-04T05:44:20-05:00September 4th, 2023|Categories: Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Trees, Shrubs and Flowers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

When I'm not photographing birds, I photograph whatever catches my eye. Last September, my focus shifted to sunflower photography near Farmington Bay WMA.

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