My Story Timeline
I write about the true stories behind my images and share them on my site. One day, I might write about birds; the next, about an insect; and the following day, I might focus on a specific location. Each of these stories revolves around nature, my connection to it, or my concerns about preserving our natural world. This journal primarily serves as a collection of factual accounts from my journeys in the field.
While my primary passion is for birds, since everything in nature is interconnected, I photograph everything and write about it all. My life has always been intertwined with nature, and I hope it always will be.
Best wishes,
Mia
Male Black-necked Stilt near the auto loop at Bear River MBR
The Black-necked Stilt adults seem to be still keeping an eye on their young and that is what this male Black-necked Stilt was doing near the auto tour loop.
Fifteen Minutes With Sibling Burrowing Owl Juveniles
Yesterday morning I spent fifteen minutes with sibling Burrowing Owl juveniles in northern Utah not long after the sun came up and while there was still golden light.
Wasatch Mountain Range Chipmunk
It seemed like every where I looked I saw little chipmunks scurrying around on the ground and climbing in the scrub oaks that dot the western side of the Wasatch Mountains.
Nonbreeding American Avocet foraging at Bear River MBR
The American Avocets look a bit different now than they did earlier in the year because they are now in their paler, less colorful nonbreeding plumage.
Yawning Juvenile Burrowing Owl
I haven't posted a Burrowing Owl in a bit so I thought I would share this yawning juvenile Burrowing Owl that I photographed the beginning of July.
Yellow Salsify Seed Head in the Targhee National Forest
The scientific name is Tragopogon dubius but this forb has many common names including Yellow Salsify, Yellow Goatsbeard, Western Salsify, Wild Oysterplant and my favorite Western Goatsbeard.
An Extreme Variation of Supplemental Plumage in an American White Pelican
Two days ago while on the auto tour loop at Bear River MBR an American White Pelican caught my eyes because of its unusually dark crown, nape, and neck plumage.
Adult American Bittern at Bear River NWR
The bird I was looking at wasn't a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron at all, it was an adult American Bittern out in the open!
Adult Snowy Egret Hunting for Prey
I liked the crouched position of this Snowy Egret as it was about to strike the prey it was hunting and when it struck it did capture and eat the small fish.
Juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons at Bear River MBR
I saw plenty of birds yesterday including juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons at Bear River MBR every where I looked.
Juvenile Northern Harrier Flying Over a Snowy Field
Temps were probably in the teens when I photographed this juvenile harrier in January of 2010 at Farmington Bay. Ahhh.
Sun-kissed Silver Sagebrush
Sometime very soon I will need to smell the sagebrush, hold it in my hands and breathe.
Wildfire on Antelope Island State Park (Update)
Friday evening a wildfire started on Antelope Island State Park several miles northwest of Fielding Garr Ranch. The cause is thought to be lightning.
Roadside Swainson’s Hawk in Rural Montana
I thought the invisible fence made this roadside Swainson's Hawk in rural Montana an interesting subject to share.
Black Butte of the Gravelly Range, Montana
The highest peak of the Gravelly Range is Black Butte, an ancient volcanic cone, at an elevation of 10,542 feet.
Killdeer Chicks at Red Rock Lakes NWR
Killdeer chicks are precocial and active soon after hatching and will leave the nest as soon as their down dries.
Hidden Short-eared Owl Fledgling
I know that this hidden Short-eared Owl fledgling image isn't one of my best because of the grasses in front of its face and the shadow of a stem falling on its left eye but I love it.
Short-eared Owl In Flight Over A Wet Meadow
This Short-eared Owl in flight over a wet meadow was just one of my favorite images taken yesterday in the Centennial Valley.
Juvenile Mountain Bluebird on the way to Gravelly Range
I was also delighted to photograph this juvenile Mountain Bluebird on the way to Gravelly Range early in the morning.
Migrating Least Sandpiper at Red Rock Lakes NWR
I photographed this migrating Least Sandpiper in the same pond as the Wilson's Phalarope chick at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge but on different days.
Beaverhead County Red-tailed Hawks
These are a few of the Beaverhead County Red-tailed Hawks that I have photographed while on this trip to Montana and Idaho.
Jackpot! Lifer Northern Pygmy-Owl with Prey
I went looking for a mammal species yesterday and dipped on them but hit the jackpot by getting a lifer bird, a Northern Pygmy-Owl and it had prey!
Wilson’s Phalarope Chick at Red Rock Lakes NWR
I was photographing a Wilson's Phalarope chick and it was in fact the youngest phalarope chick I had ever seen!
Camping on Public Lands in Clark County, Idaho
Good morning! I am writing this morning from a campsite that is on OUR Public Lands just outside the Targhee National Forest in Clark County, Idaho.
Juvenile Royal Terns on the Gulf Coast
When I lived in Florida I was able to see and photograph juvenile Royal Terns on the Gulf Coast were they could be seen along the shoreline and they were usually begging the adults for food.
Celebrating Seven Years in Utah – Photographing Birds, Wildlife and Scenery
My journey in life has taken me to many places and I'm glad that it brought me to Utah where I am enjoying photographing birds, wildlife and scenery. Seven years ago today.
New Genus for Sandhill Cranes
Another change that has officially occurred was that Sandhill Cranes were moved from the genus Grus to Antigone.
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay – A Familiar Bird with a New Name
The long-awaited Scrub-Jay split has officially happened! Western Scrub-Jay can be crossed out in a our fields guides and the two new names California Scrub-Jay and Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay can be penciled in.
Uinta Ground Squirrels in the Uinta Mountains
One of the Uinta Ground Squirrels stood up and simply looked around right on the shoulder of the road and I couldn't resist photographing it.
Juvenile Loggerhead Shrike with a Robber Fly
When I took this image the juvenile Loggerhead Shrike was perched on a dead twig when the robber fly flew into the frame, the shrike took off after the fly and caught it in mid air.