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
Lincoln’s Sparrow in Montana
This Lincoln's Sparrow was photographed last month at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, the spring green leaves in the distant background sure don't compete with the subtle beauty of this sparrow.
Willet in the surf of the Gulf of Mexico
Getting "Down & Dirty" pays off when photographing shorebirds like this Willet in the surf I photographed in Florida as it walked along the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico.
Burrowing Owl Butt Shot!
Let's face it some butt shots aren't very pretty but some can be awfully darned cute!
Adult Burrowing Owl Lift Off
I've been having fun photographing Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) lately and it is a joy to have them in my viewfinder again.
Tundra Swans in Flight
Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus) by the thousands overwinter in the Great Salt Lake area, it is not uncommon to see huge flocks of them at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area in northern Utah.
Stormy Sky over Antelope Island State Park
I went out to Antelope Island State Park yesterday hoping to put my newly repaired D300 through its paces and although I did get some images of birds and mammals, the light wasn't very good for most of the morning because of storm clouds.
Western Kingbird On Barbed Wire
Western Kingbirds appear to have had a wonderful nesting season here in Utah because there are plenty of young birds perching on wires and branches loudly demanding food from the frazzled looking adults.
Black-crowned Night Heron Fly By
I spent yesterday morning photographing at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Box Elder County, Utah. Black-crowned Night Herons seemed to be everywhere on the south side of the auto tour loop, both adults and hatch year birds.
Desert Cottontail Rabbit
I photographed this little Cottontail Rabbit yesterday on Antelope Island State Park. Black-tailed Jackrabbits are far more common on the island so I was tickled to see this Cottontail near the haybarn.
Playing with Light – Teasels
Large groups of Teasels; an introduced "weed", caught my eye in the early morning light
Cooperative Loggerhead Shrike Juvenile
From all appearances it has been a great nesting season for the Loggerhead Shrikes on Antelope Island State Park, it seems everywhere I look there are numerous juvenile Shrikes perched on bushes near rather harried looking adults.
Bison On Antelope Island
With the rising temperatures the American Bison on Antelope Island need to find a reliable freshwater source.
Three And A Half Months With A Young American Oystercatcher
In 2008 I had the great pleasure of observing and photographing a family of American Oystercatchers from the day after the chicks hatched until three and a half months later.
American Oystercatcher In A Tidal Lagoon
I've been working up images for a long post and this American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) image is a clue as to what that post will be about.
Calling male Long-billed Curlew
I haven't heard a Long-billed Curlew calling for several weeks here in northern Utah and I already miss hearing their calls.
Burrowing Owls – They Make Me Smile
When I photograph Burrowing Owls I can't resist smiling, especially when they are juveniles. Just seeing them makes me grin.
A Cool Mountain View
The temps are up all over the U.S. and almost everyone is feeling the heat, I know I am.
Clearing Storm at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
As many of my regular viewers know I love Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana. Just by being there I can feel my blood pressure drop, a sense of peace flows through my body and my mind (and camera) focuses on the wonders and intricacies of nature.
Rough-legged Hawk ~ Friday Photos
Rough-legged Hawks breed in the Arctic so we don't see them around here in northern Utah during the summer.
Birds of Antelope Island – A Mix of Feathered Friends
Yesterday I photographed a mixture of the birds of Antelope Island State Park and had great fun while doing it.
Western Grebe and chick
Here in Utah I am constantly watching the sky for billowing clouds of the smoke of a new fire. We need rain, we need a good soaking.
Farmington Utah’s Voles – Just My Opinion
Recently KSL.com; a Utah news station, had an article about a vole (a small rodent) infestation In Farmington, specifically in the neighborhood of Foxboro Community. While I sympathize with the residents about the damage being done to their yards I am disturbed by the advice many of the people commenting have left on the story.
What Utah Birds Do When The Heat Is On…
I don't know if the birds think the water of the Great Salt Lake looks refreshing but when the heat is on like today, I sure do!
Whoa, that is a lot of Wilson’s Phalaropes!
There were hundreds of thousands of Wilson's Phalaropes near the shoreline of the causeway, whirling around in the water and along the marshy areas not far from the park entrance.
Summer Heat and Winter Cold
I decided to post an image that said... cold, snow and winter. Just looking at it seems to cool me down.
Perched Eastern Kingbird
I always look forward to seeing and photographing Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) during the warmer months of the year. I was fortunate to see a few yesterday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah.
An American Avocet
Currently I am considering pursuing legal action against a commercial web site in Layton, Utah that has stolen 4 of my copyrighted images and used them on their site. The process of making a legal claim is daunting to me, however; I feel that I have to stand up and fight for what is legally mine AND protected by law.
Creatures Great and Small – Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
There are many mammals to see at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana, I haven't seen them all yet but I hope to one day. On this last trip I saw Moose, Elk, Skunks, Ground Squirrels, Chipmunks, Foxes, White-tailed and Mule Deer, Yellow-bellied Marmots, and Pronghorns.
The Morning Mist at Red Rock Lakes NWR
I don't have much time to post today but I wanted to share a few photos taken this week of the mists at the Lower Lake of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana. Red Rock Lakes NWR is an incredibly wild and beautiful location that has stolen a piece of my heart.
Foraging Marbled Godwit
I love how peaceful this image is with the Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) paying absolutely no attention to me as I sat very still in the warm waters of a tidal lagoon photographing it.