
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
Fruit Fly Shaped Cloud
On Friday I was looking for birds high in the sky and low on the horizon when I turned my head and spotted a fruit fly shaped cloud.
Singing Townsend’s Solitaire Surrounded By Tiny Bugs
Yesterday I was thrilled to listen to and photograph a singing Townsend's Solitaire as it perched on a juniper surrounded by tiny flying bugs.
Wondering About Overwintering Double-crested Cormorants
Last winter I missed seeing overwintering Double-crested Cormorants at my local ponds and in other locations in northern Utah where I typically see them.
American Goldfinches In Winter Plumage
Last week I spent some time with American Goldfinches in their winter plumage in my viewfinder and had fun photographing them.
Orange Variant Male House Finch Photos
Last week I had the opportunity to take a nice long series of an orange variant male House Finch while it ate the seeds of a greasewood.
Immature Black-billed Magpie Portrait At Sunrise
I was looking through my archives yesterday when I came across this immature Black-billed Magpie portrait taken at sunrise on Antelope Island State Park.
Memories From When I Found My Horned Grebe Lifer
Six years ago today I found my lifer Horned Grebe on a frosty November morning in the marshes of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Drought-stricken Douglas Firs – How It Is Affecting The Birds That Eat The Seeds
When I was out in the sky island mountains of the West Desert of Utah a few days ago I was again met with virtual silence in and around the Douglas Firs that are there.
How I Found My First Of Season Rough-legged Hawks
It was a very memorable first of year sighting of these Rough-legged Hawks. The kind where you sit there wondering if you really saw what you saw.
My First White-throated Sparrow Sighting In Utah
Yesterday I found my first White-throated Sparrow in Utah, photographed it, and when I pointed it out to a friend this sparrow became a lifer for them.
Three Canada Geese On An Autumn Morning
Last week I photographed three Canada Geese lifting off from Glover Pond at Farmington Bay and it brought memories from November of 2008.
It Is Time To Watch For Bald Eagles In Northern Utah
Starting today I will be keeping an eye out for the return of Bald Eagles to the lower elevations of northern Utah.
American Pipits – AKA Buff-bellied Pipits
I've been hearing American Pipits since around the end of September but so far this year I haven't been able to photograph even one of these birds.
Eurasian Collared-Dove Without A Collar
I photographed this Eurasian Collared-Dove last week at Farmington Bay and noticed that it didn't have the dark collar usually seen on this species.
Happy Halloween From The Headless Hawk
Our eyes can play tricks on us and that is what happened with this "headless" Red-tailed Hawk that I photographed last October at Farmington Bay WMA.
Resting Western Grebe With Reflections Of Fall Colors
I went to Farmington Bay WMA yesterday morning where one of the birds I photographed was this resting Western Grebe with reflections of fall colors.
Semipalmated Plover Images
While rifling through my archives I came across some of my Semipalmated Plover photos that I took on the north beach at Fort De Soto County Park in 2008.
Fall Song Sparrow Photos
Earlier this month I had an opportunity to take a few fall Song Sparrow photos while way up in Box Elder County in northern Utah.
Well Crap – Another Cloudy Day
I selected this hatch year Great Blue Heron photo to share today because it showed the young bird taking a crap on the flats of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Autumn Common Loon Memory
Almost one year ago I spotted a Common Loon floating on the Bear River after a somewhat disappointing morning for birds at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Ring-billed Gull In Flight And Erratic Autumn Weather
Changing weather is what was happening when I photographed this Ring-billed Gull last month flying over the marsh at Farmington Bay WMA.
My Growing Concerns Over This Years Crop Of Douglas Fir Seeds Because Of Our Drought
My trip out into the sky island mountains of the West Desert last week caused my concerns about this years crop of Douglas Fir seeds to grow.
It Is Time To Look And Listen For Tundra Swans In Northern Utah
This morning I noticed in my Facebook memories that I saw and heard my first of season Tundra Swans at Bear River MBR on this date in 2015 and that made me happy.
Ferruginous Hawk In The Changing Light Of Dawn
The first bird photos that I took yesterday morning in the desert were of a Ferruginous Hawk perched on a fence post in pre-dawn light.
White-faced Ibis Close Up
I'd almost forgotten about this White-faced Ibis close up photo that I took at the end of last month in the wetlands of Farmington Bay WMA.
Immature White-crowned Sparrow Photos In Fall
When I was way up north in Box Elder County three days ago I had the opportunity to take immature White-crowned Sparrow photos with fall colors in the frames.
Fall Wild Turkey Hen Foraging On Desert Ranchlands
The first photos I took with my newly refurbished Nikon D500 with a new shutter assembly were of this Wild Turkey hen foraging on desert ranchlands.
Autumn Loggerhead Shrike
This adult Loggerhead Shrike perched on a Fragrant Sumac was among the birds that I found yesterday morning way up in northern Utah.
Fall Hooded Merganser At Farmington Bay
This morning I am sharing a simple image of a Hooded Merganser I found two days ago on a pond at Farmington Bay WMA that had autumn colors reflected on the water.
How I Found This Secretive Virginia Rail At Farmington Bay
Today I wanted to write about how I found this secretive Virginia Rail in the marsh at Farmington Bay WMA yesterday morning.