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
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.
Juvenile Western Kingbird Begging For Food From An Adult
Late last month I photographed a Western Kingbird family in Box Elder County where the juveniles kept begging for food from the adult.
It is Getting Duckier at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Over the past couple of weeks I have noticed that Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is getting duckier. I am seeing more ducks in the water and flying over head now than I had in July.
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird perched on Moth Mullein
I wanted to post an image of a juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird today because despite their bad reputations as brood parasites they are native birds that I think are worth pointing my lens at.
Western Grebe Portrait
A few days ago a Western Grebe popped up from under the water very close to me and I was able to take a quick series of portraits of it before it moved away.
Bear River and a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron
In my post yesterday I mentioned that the Snowy Egrets that I photographed at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge were avoiding a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron, this is that heron.
Flurry of Snowies in August
There was lots of bird activity yesterday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and a flurry of Snowy Egrets kept things interesting early in the morning.
Punked Out Muskrat
It isn't often that I can capture images of Muskrats out of the water so I was delighted to spot this one a few days ago at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Red-tailed Hawks Near The Promontory Mountains
Yesterday I spent the morning in Box Elder County driving along the Promontory Mountain Range and Red-tailed Hawks were the most numerous raptors I saw.
Juvenile Swainson’s Hawk on a bale of hay
I created this juvenile Swainson's Hawk image two days ago before the sun rose over the mountains and I liked how it turned out despite the low light.
Black-necked Stilt And My Concerns About The Future Of The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
If the Bear River is dammed upstream I have to wonder if we will see history repeating itself but made even worse by climate change, reduced snow pack and rising temperatures and how that will impact the refuge.
Sandhill Crane And Its Nearly Full-sized Colt
The Sandhill Crane colts at Farmington Bay are as tall as their parents and look just like them except for the markings on their head and the color of their bills and eyes.
Marbled Godwits Are Migrating
The past few times I have gone to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I have seen Marbled Godwits flying over and I know that their migration to their wintering grounds has begun.
Bryce Canyon National Park Hoodoos
One of the places on that 2007 trip that I most wanted to see was Bryce Canyon National Park because I wanted to view the hoodoos in person and I am very glad I went because it is beyond gorgeous.
The American Bison Calves Are Not So Little Or Red Now
Newly born American Bison calves are called "Reds" or Little Reds" after they are born in the spring and compared to the darker adults they appear very red.
Portrait Of A Wet Juvenile Loggerhead Shrike
After a rainy summer day there were puddles on the dirt roads of Antelope Island State Park and this juvenile Loggerhead Shrike took advantage of a puddle and bathed.
Young Burrowing Owls In And Near Their Burrows
The young Burrowing Owls I have been following and photographing are growing up but many of them still stay close to the burrows they hatched in.
Young Wilson’s Phalaropes at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
I am seeing more and more Wilson's Phalaropes at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and the majority of the birds I see are hatch year birds.
Antelope Island Spiders – An Important Part of the Food Web
This coming Saturday, August 8, 2015, is the date 0f the annual Spider Festival on Antelope Island State Park and there should be plenty of spiders to be seen, almost a bumper crop of them!
Great Horned Owl in Box Elder County
I was in far northern Utah yesterday and saw the hawks I expected to see but finding this Great Horned Owl was a bit of a surprise since I wasn't looking for Great Horned Owls.
Pooping Coyote – Oh Crap, She Is Aiming Her Glass At Me Again!
If this pooping Coyote could talk I wonder what she would say? Please feel free to add a caption in the comments!
Western Kingbirds – Juveniles Begging To Be Fed
So even though I didn't come home with many Burrowing Owls images yesterday these Western Kingbird images more than made up for it!
Singing Song Dogs
I started my morning yesterday on Antelope Island State Park with a mated pair of singing Song Dogs.
Juvenile Lark Sparrow on Antelope Island
I don't often have the opportunity to photograph young Lark Sparrows so I jumped at the chance last Saturday when I saw this one on Antelope Island State Park.
It Is Tough Being A Bird Photographer When It Comes To Burrowing Owls
You might wonder why I think it is tough being a bird photographer when it comes to Burrowing Owls.