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.

Pine Siskin Close Up Photos

By |August 11th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Morgan County, Pine Siskins, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

I am always glad when a bird unexpectedly flies in so that I can take close up photos because close ups show so much fine detail in their plumage and that is what happened earlier this week with a Pine Siskin.

Birds & More Birds in The Wasatch Mountains

By |August 10th, 2018|Categories: American Robins, Birds, Bullock's Orioles, Cedar Waxwings, Gray Catbirds, Lark Sparrows, Lazuli Buntings, Morgan County, Northern Yellow Warblers, Song Sparrows, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In the past week I have photographed so many birds in a Wasatch Mountain canyon that I thought I would share a group of them in a photo gallery.

Young Bull Moose Plus Least Chipmunks In A Mountain Canyon

By |August 9th, 2018|Categories: Least Chipmunks, Moose, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains, Wildlife|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I haven't just found and photographed birds this week, I have also had some furry creatures in my viewfinder including a young bull Moose and plenty of Least Chipmunks.

Focusing on Young Chipping Sparrows Foraging in Chokecherry Trees

By |August 8th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Chipping Sparrows, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

I spent a few minutes yesterday morning focusing on young Chipping Sparrows foraging in a stand of Chokecherry trees, there were several of these juveniles flitting around in front of me in nice light.

Photographing Immature American Robins In A Smoky Wildfire Haze

By |August 7th, 2018|Categories: American Robins, Birds, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While photographing some waxwings a flash of movement caught my eye and I spotted an immature American Robin reaching for a berry in a Utah Serviceberry shrub, I couldn't help myself, I had to photograph this young bird too.

Orange-crowned Warbler Feeding On Utah Serviceberry Berries

By |August 6th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Morgan County, Orange-crowned Warblers, Shrubs, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Orange-crowned Warbler gave me quite a few different poses and I was happy to take photos of her and the Utah Serviceberry shrub while she moved around.

Monarch Butterflies and Rocky Mountain Bee Plants in Northern Utah

By |August 5th, 2018|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Monarch Butterflies, Utah, Wildflowers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last year I found plenty of Monarch Butterflies on the Rocky Mountain Bee Plants on Antelope Island and they were a delight to photograph as they fluttered around going from flower to flower sipping nectar from the delicate blossoms.

Stormy Sky With A Great Blue Heron In Flight Over Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

By |August 4th, 2018|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Two years ago when I photographed this stormy sky with a Great Blue Heron in flight I also photographed loads of other birds from the auto tour route including wading and shorebirds, geese, ducks, ibis, terns, gulls, rails, pelicans and coots.

Blue Elderberry – Native Food Source For Birds, Wildlife And People Too

By |August 1st, 2018|Categories: Blue Elderberry, Summit County, Trees, Shrubs and Flowers, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Another non-bird post this morning about Blue Elderberry shrubs which are a native food source for birds, wildlife and people too. I've photograph this particular Blue Elderberry up in a Wasatch Mountain canyon for several years.

Drake Redhead Photos Taken in Different Lighting Conditions

By |July 30th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Redheads, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I enjoy viewing the image of the drake Redhead on the snowy January morning just as much as the drake Redhead photo on a clear February afternoon, they both show the ducks doing what ducks do no matter what the weather is doing.

Female Great Spangled Fritillary Nectaring on Musk Thistle in the Wasatch Mountains

By |July 29th, 2018|Categories: Great Spangled Fritillary Butterflies, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains, Wildflowers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last week while I was up in a canyon in the Wasatch Mountains I spotted a female Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly nectaring on a Musk Thistle so I felt I had to take photos of she sipped the nectar of the flower.

Least Chipmunk Eating Utah Serviceberry Berries

By |July 28th, 2018|Categories: Least Chipmunks, Shrubs, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I'm always happy to photograph the other things I see while I am out photographing birds and that includes cute critters like this Least Chipmunk nibbling on the fruits of the Utah Serviceberry shrub.

American Goldfinch Perched on a dried Musk Thistle Blossom & Short Video Clip

By |July 27th, 2018|Categories: American Goldfinches, Birds, Summit County, Utah, Video, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today I am keeping it short and sweet and sharing one photo of a male American Goldfinch perched on a dried Musk Thistle blossom plus a short video clip I took of him as he lifted off and flew away.

Juvenile Western Kingbirds in Box Elder County, Utah

By |July 25th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Utah, Western Kingbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Juvenile Western Kingbirds may look sweet like this one does perched on a fence but they can be rather pushy when it comes to demanding food from their parents and they are also quite noisy too while they are begging.

Blooming Common Mullein In The Wasatch Mountains

By |July 23rd, 2018|Categories: Common Mullein, Summit County, Utah, Wildflowers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

As a child I remember plucking the leaves of Common Mullein just to touch them because the leaves were as soft as well worn flannel, their yellow flowers didn't interest me much but the soft leaves sure did.

Crappy Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron in Flight Photo

By |July 21st, 2018|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've taken my share of crappy photos during the time I have been focused on photographing birds but this photo of a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron crapping in flight may be the crappiest of them all.

Male Flame Skimmer Dragonfly – Libellula saturata

By |July 20th, 2018|Categories: Box Elder County, Dragonflies, Flame Skimmers, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I caught a flash of orange that drew my eye and watched as this male Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) dragonfly landed on a branch not far from where I had parked my Jeep.

Incredible Phalarope Migration Happening Now at the Great Salt Lake

By |July 19th, 2018|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Red-necked Phalaropes, Utah, Wilson's Phalaropes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Red-necked and Wilson's Phalaropes have started their fall migration and one of the places where they gather in large numbers is the Great Salt Lake where they show up in the tens of thousands to feed and rest before continuing their journey.

Sibling Red-tailed Hawk Juveniles Perched & On The Wing

By |July 17th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Red-tailed Hawks, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Back in March of this year I started watching and photographing a pair of Red-tailed Hawks in the process of building their nest on the face of a high cliff, these two juveniles are the results of the hard work of that pair of hawks.

My Photographic Journal Featured in the University of Montana’s Crown of the Continent and Greater Yellowstone Magazine

By |July 16th, 2018|Categories: Beaverhead County, Centennial Mountains, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: , , , , , , , |

I typically don't announce publication of my work on my website but I am so honored to have my work included in Crown of the Continent and Greater Yellowstone e-Magazine that I decided to share this with my family, friends and all of the people who view my site.

Great Salt Lake Brine Flies – Important Food Source For California Gulls

By |July 14th, 2018|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Brine Flies, California Gulls, Davis County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Brine flies that live in the Great Salt Lake are an important food source for California Gulls and watching the gulls feed on the flies is fascinating as they use several techniques to catch them.

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