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
Trumpeter Swan Cygnets and Preening, Pin Feathers and Molt
In my last post on the Trumpeter Swan Cygnets On Elk Lake I mentioned that the cygnets spent a lot of time preening and part of the reason they do is they are molting.
Crepuscular Rays and Watercolor Skies at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
My focus is usually birds and animals but as many of you know I also can't resist taking images of the beautiful views I see such as these two views of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge last week.
Juvenile Swainson’s Hawk stretching its wings
I had wanted to post this photo of a juvenile Swainson's Hawk last week from Montana but because my cell signal was so cruddy I didn't get this image uploaded.
Northern Flicker On A Fence Post In The Centennial Valley
Early on the second morning when I was in Montana last week I was able to photograph this male Northern Flicker on the side and top of a weathered fence post.
Swainson’s Hawk Juvenile Jumping To A New Perch
I photographed a Swainson's Hawk family for several mornings while I was in Montana and this is one of the juveniles I focused on.
Centennial Valley Merlin
I don't often have the opportunity to photograph Merlins so I was plenty excited to find one yesterday on the South Valley Road in the Centennial Valley that stuck around for a bit!
Trumpeter Swan Cygnets On Elk Lake
I am totally enamored by Trumpeter Swans, they are not only graceful and beautiful but the adults seem like such caring parents and keep an ever watchful eye on their young.
A Swainson’s Hawk missed prey hand off
I sat with some juvenile Swainson's Hawks yesterday morning for quite some time and it eventually paid off when an adult came in to hand off prey but the young hawk missed.
A Tragic Sight To See – American Barn Owl Caught On Barb Wire
Yesterday morning I saw a sight that made me ill to see and that is a Barn Owl hung up on a barb wire fence on the south side of the Centennial Valley.
Centennial Valley Swainson’s Hawk
I am enjoying my time in the Centennial Valley especially when I can spend time photographing raptors like this adult light morph Swainson's Hawk.
Lovely September Afternoon at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
I am camping in one of my favorite locations in the world right now, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana.
Bathing Ruddy Turnstone
About half the world's shorebird populations are in decline and with climate change and rising sea levels habitat loss is happening at a faster rate than ever before.
A September Storm over Henry’s Lake And An Inspirational Thought For The Day
This image was taken last year at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge looking east towards Henry's Lake, Idaho.
International Vulture Awareness Day
Sure, vultures aren't are handsome as Bald Eagles but they do serve an ecological function of cleaning up carrion so in essence they are nature's recyclers.
A Pronghorn Buck, wild Sunflowers and the Great Salt Lake
As many of my readers know I like to take portraits of the birds and animals I photograph but I also like to take images that show my subjects smaller in their native habitat.
An Immature Sage Thrasher On A September Morning
The Sage Thrashers on Antelope Island State Park are busy getting ready for migration and the thrashers hatched this year appear to be almost ready to go.
Drake Mallards in Breeding and Eclipse Plumage
Yesterday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I was able to photograph a Mallard drake as it lifted off from the water on the south side of the auto tour loop.
Welcome September…
The first day of September signals to me that cooler weather is arriving so I took a look back at some of the images I have taken in September from 2008 on.
Adult Virginia Rail And Its Reflection
I am always thrilled when a Virginia Rail comes out into the open because typically they are shy, secretive marsh birds.
Rough-legged Hawk And Thoughts About The Upcoming Winter
I came across this image of a male Rough-legged Hawk taken this past February and it caused me to wonder what this upcoming winter will be like.
Western Grebe with a feather on its bill
Two days ago at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I found a couple of Western Grebes preening in an area where the reflections on the water are always wonderful so I took a series of images.
Great Horned Owl Chick On Honeymoon Island State Park
I spent about three months in 2008 watching a Great Horned Owl nest on Honeymoon Island State Park in Florida from hatching until this young owl fledged.
Smokey Skies And A Great Blue Heron In Flight
On a clear day this Great Blue Heron image would have shown the Promontory Mountains in the distant background instead of the dull gray seen here.
An Injured Long-tailed Weasel and a Snowy Egret Entangled in Rope
And this one of the Long-tailed Weasel at the side of the road that shows its face, dark eyes and cute rounded ears but it also shows that the weasel appears to be injured on the left of its nose.
Cedar Waxwing in Little Emigration Canyon
It was clear, smoke-free, cool and wonderful up in Little Emigration Canyon yesterday and seeing several Cedar Waxwings made it even better.
Western Grebes And Their Young At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
There were plenty of Western Grebes to be seen and photographed yesterday morning at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge and I took tons of images of them.
Juvenile Royal Tern Head On And An Optical Illusion
Every time I look at this tern image I laugh because my mind sees a tiny starfish stuck on the birds face that is actually its bill.
Bathing Dunlin At Fort De Soto County Park
This is a simple image of a bathing Dunlin from May of 2009 taken at Fort De Soto County Park that brings back wonderful memories for me.
Western Grebe in early morning, smokey light
This Western Grebe was preening and flapping on the Bear River in that glowing, smokey light not long after dawn.
Virginia Rails at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Virginia Rails are secretive marsh birds that can be found at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge during the breeding season and the can be very difficult to see let alone photograph.