waterfowl – Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

Canada Geese On The Bear River

By Mia McPherson|February 13th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Canada Geese, Utah, Video|Tags: adult, Bear River, Branta canadensis, Canada Geese, Canada Goose, floating, geese, goose, ranchlands, river, swimming, video, water, waterfowl, wetlands, winter|

Yesterday morning, at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, I took a short video of Canada Geese in the road while I was on the north side of the auto tour loop.

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More Greater White-fronted Goose Images

By Mia McPherson|February 9th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Greater White-fronted Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, Anser albifrons, geese, goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, migrating, pond, Salt Lake County, Specklebellies, Specklebelly, strategy, urban, Utah, water, waterfowl, winter|

This morning, I wanted to share more of my Greater White-fronted Goose images I took six days ago. I haven't gone through all of my photos of this goose yet.

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Tundra Swans And Precious Memories

By Mia McPherson|February 7th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: adult, Anas platyrhynchos, Cygnus columbianus, dabbling ducks, duck, ducks, flight, flying, ice, ice shelf, immature, mallards, marsh, phragmites, phrags, swan, swans, Tundra Swans, water, waterfowl, wetlands, winter, young|

Tundra Swans and memories are on my mind this morning. Six years ago, I sat in my Jeep watching hundreds of Tundra Swans at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

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Gaggle Of Canada Geese At Bear River MBR

By Mia McPherson|February 5th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Canada Geese, Utah|Tags: adult, auto tour loop, Branta canadensis, Canada Geese, field, flock, gaggle, geese, goose, marsh, waterfowl, wetlands, winter|

When I was up at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge at the end of January, I stopped on the auto tour loop to take photos of a small gaggle of Canada Geese.

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Ten Greater White-fronted Goose Photos

By Mia McPherson|February 4th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Greater White-fronted Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, Anser albifrons, background, close up, eating, feeding, frontal, geese, goose, grass, Greater White-fronted Goose, Mallard, pond, side view, Specklebellies, stump, up close, urban, vagrant, vegetation, water, waterfowl, winter|

I was out running errands yesterday when I found a Greater White-fronted Goose. I drove home to grab my gear so I could photograph this 'specklebelly' goose.

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Common Mergansers And Remote Controlled Harassment

By Mia McPherson|January 15th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Common Mergansers, Harassment, Miscellaneous, Salt Lake County, Utah, Wildlife Ethics|Tags: adult, bothering, close up, Common Merganser, diving ducks, drake, duck, ducks, flight, flying, harassment, harasssing, immature, male, merganser, mergansers, Mergus merganser, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, park, pond, remote controlled boat, remote controlled speedboat, sliding, toy, urban, water, waterfowl, wild, winter, young|

I photographed these Common Mergansers at my local pond three years ago today. I will explain why I only had a few minutes with the mergansers at my local pond.

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Male Mallard Resting In Snow – Connections

By Mia McPherson|January 14th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Mallards, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, Anas platyrhynchos, close up, dabbling ducks, drake, duck, ducks, male, Mallard, mallards, park, photographing, pond, resting, Salt Lake County, snow, snowy, urban, Utah, watching, waterfowl, winter|

I visited my local ponds yesterday even though the sky was gray, and snow was falling. While I was there, I photographed this male Mallard resting in the snow.

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Canada Goose On The Wing

By Mia McPherson|January 12th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Canada Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, branches, Branta canadensis, calling, Canada Geese, flight, flying, geese, goose, on the wing, park, pond, Salt Lake County, sky, tree, urban, Utah, waterfowl, winter|

There was a break in the gray clouds yesterday before noon, so I drove down to my local pond. While I was there, I photographed this Canada Goose on the wing.

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Fun Drake Mallard At Bear River MBR

By Mia McPherson|January 4th, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Mallards, Utah|Tags: adult, Anas platyrhynchos, Bear River MBR, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, breeding plumage, dabbling duck, drake, ducks, flight, flying, ice, lifting off, male, Mallard, mallards, marsh, New Year's Day, taking off, Utah, water, waterfowl, wetlands, winter|

On New Year's Day morning, I had fun photographing a drake Mallard from the auto tour loop of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge as he lifted off from the marsh.

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Drake Northern Pintail At Bear River MBR On New Year’s Day

By Mia McPherson|January 3rd, 2024|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Northern Pintails, Utah|Tags: adult, Anas acuta, dabbling ducks, drake, duck, ducks, feathers, ice, male, marsh, morning, New Year's Day, Northern Pintail, pintail, pintails, shaking, standing, waterfowl, wetlands, winter|

I was thrilled to find and photograph a handsome drake Northern Pintail out on the auto tour loop of Bear River MBR on New Year's Day morning.

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Canada Geese In A Snowstorm

By Mia McPherson|December 30th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Canada Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, blizzard, Branta canadensis, Canada Geese, climate change, climate crisis, geese, goose, high key, park, snow, snow storm, snowstorm, urban, waterfowl, whiteout, winter|

As 2023 winds down, I've been looking at older photos taken at the end of previous years. This 2019 image of Canada Geese in a snowstorm stood out to me.

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Snow Goose In Salt Lake County

By Mia McPherson|December 15th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Salt Lake County, Snow Geese, Utah|Tags: adult, Anser caerulescens, autumn, fall, geese, golf course, goose, grass, Snow Geese, Snow Goose, urban, waterfowl|

Towards the end of November, I found a Snow Goose in Salt Lake County at my local pond. Unfortunately, on that afternoon, I didn't have my camera with me.

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Canada Geese In Falling Snow

By Mia McPherson|November 25th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Canada Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, autumn, Branta canadensis, Canada Geese, Canada Goose, coot, coots, fall, falling, Fulica americana, geese, goose, low light, park, pond, snow, snow fall, snowfall, snowing, urban, water, waterbirds, waterfowl|

Yesterday I desperately needed a bird break so I went down to my local pond. While I was there I photographed Canada Geese and American Coots in falling snow.

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Drake Hooded Merganser Memory

By Mia McPherson|November 21st, 2023|Categories: Birds, Hooded Mergansers, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: autumn, close up, diving ducks, drake, ducks, evening light, fall, Hooded Merganser, landing, Lophodytes cucullatus, male, merganser, mergansers, pond, portrait, splashing, up close, water, waterfowl|

Once upon a chilly December evening, I had a blast photographing a stunning drake Hooded Merganser in gorgeous light at an urban pond close to home.

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Canada Goose Splash Landing

By Mia McPherson|November 14th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Canada Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, autumn, Branta canadensis, Canada Geese, fall, geese, goose, landing, park, pond, splash, splashing, urban, water, waterfowl|

Today, I am sharing a simple photo of a Canada Goose splash landing at one of my local ponds. This image was taken on a sunny afternoon almost one year ago.

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Time To See And Hear Tundra Swans

By Mia McPherson|November 10th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: adult, autumn, Box Elder County, Cygnus columbianus, fall, flight, flock, flying, marsh, mountains, pair, phragmites, phrags, Promontory Mountains, sky, swan, swans, Tundra Swan, waterfowl, wetlands, winter|

Now is a great time to see and hear Tundra Swans from the marshes at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I saw several large flocks of them yesterday from there.

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Canada Goose With Fall Colors

By Mia McPherson|September 25th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Canada Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, autumn, Branta canadensis, Canada Geese, city park, fall, fall colors, flight, flying, geese, goose, park, trees, urban, waterfowl|

When I took this photo of a Canada Goose at an urban pond close to home several years ago, I loved the fall colors in the background behind the goose.

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Wasatch Mountain Mallard Babies

By Mia McPherson|June 4th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Mallards, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: Anas platyrhynchos, babies, canyon, creek, dabbling ducks, ducklings, immature, juvenile, Mallard, mallards, mountains, spring, water, waterfowl, young|

I can't pass up photographing mountain Mallard babies when I find their little fluffy selves on mountain creeks, streams, lakes, or reservoirs.

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Trumpeter Swan Landing In The Centennial Valley Of Montana

By Mia McPherson|May 20th, 2023|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Trumpeter Swans|Tags: adult, Cygnus buccinator, fence, grass, grasses, landing, mountain valley, mountains, spring, swan, swans, Trumpeter Swan, valley, water, waterfowl, willows|

I came across this Trumpeter Swan photo taken in Montana in my archives a few days ago and wondered why I had never processed the file or shared it before.

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Drake Ruddy Duck And His Sky Blue Bill

By Mia McPherson|April 28th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Ruddy Ducks, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: blue bill, bluebill, breeding plumage, Bubbling Display, close up, diving ducks, drake, duck, ducks, male, Oxyura jamaicensis, park, pond, portrait, Ruddy Duck, spring, stiff, swimming, tail, up close, urban, water, waterfowl|

Yesterday morning, I had a real treat photographing a drake Ruddy Duck close to home. He was in his most dapper breeding plumage, including his sky blue bill.

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Mix Of Urban Birds Close To Home

By Mia McPherson|April 10th, 2023|Categories: American Robins, Birds, Double-crested Cormorants, Red-winged Blackbirds, Redheads, Salt Lake County, Savannah Sparrows, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Utah|Tags: accipiter, Accipiter striatus, Accipiters, adult, Agelaius phoeniceus, American Robin, Aythya americana, basketball backstop, blackbird, blackbirds, branches, cattail, close up, cormorant, cormorants, curb, Double-crested Cormorant, drake, duck, ducks, edge, habitat, hawks, immature, landing, male, Nannopterum auritus, neighborhood, park, Passerculus sandwichensis, perched, pond, portrait, raptors, Red-winged Blackbird, Redhead, redheads, robin, robins, Savannah Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, sky, small in frame, snow, sparrow, sparrows, splash, splashy, spring, stinkeye, thrush, thrushes, tree, Turdus migratorius, urban, water, waterbirds, waterfowl, young|

This mix of urban birds were taken over a two day period close to home. Birds, no matter where they are, bring me joy, happiness, and even laughter.

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Learning More About Collared Tundra Swans

By Mia McPherson|April 3rd, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: adult, banded, collar, collared, Cygnus columbianus, flight, flock, flying, grasses, ice, inset, male, marsh, mountains, neck markers, snow, snow covered, swan, swans, Tundra Swan, U915, U961, U974, USGS, water, waterfowl, wetlands, winter|

As the Tundra Swans in Utah begin to make their long journeys to their breeding grounds, I wanted to do one more post about the collared Tundra Swans I've found.

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Ticked Off Canada Goose Gander

By Mia McPherson|March 28th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Canada Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: Canada Goose, gander, geese, goose, grass, grasses, male, park, snow, spring, ticked off, urban, waterfowl|

Two days ago, after a spring snowstorm, I treated myself to a few minutes of local bird photography, which included this ticked-off Canada Goose gander.

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American Wigeon On The Last Day Of Winter

By Mia McPherson|March 23rd, 2023|Categories: American Wigeons, Birds, Salt Lake Valley, Utah|Tags: adult, American Wigeon, dabbling ducks, drake, duck, ducks, male, Mareca americana, morning light, pareidolia, park, pond, urban, water, waterfowl, wigeon, wigeons, winter|

I photographed an American Wigeon drake on the last day of winter at my local pond. The light was nice and lovely but my view of the wigeon was even nicer.

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World Water Day 2023

By Mia McPherson|March 22nd, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Centennial Valley, Conservation, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, Glacier County, Glacier National Park, Juab County, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Sawgrass Lake Park, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, American Coots, aspens, Box Elder County, canyon, Centennial Mountains, Centennial Valley, clouds, conifers, coots, creek, Cygnus columbianus, Fish Springs Range, flight, flock, Florida, flying, footbridge, foothills, grass, grasses, hills, ice, immature, Juab County, maple swamp, marsh, mountains, Pinellas County, pond, Promontory Mountains, rapids, reflections, river, rocks, rushing, sage, sagebrush, Sawgrass Lake Park, shadows, shrubs, sky, snow, snow-topped, spring, summer, swamp, swan, swans, trail, trees, Tundra Swan, Utah, valley, water, waterfowl, west desert, wetlands, Wigeon Pond, willows, winter, young|

Today is World Water Day. The theme for World Water Day 2023 is: Accelerate Change. Every human being on this planet is roughly 60% water.

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Tracking Tundra Swan U915: A Story of Survival

By Mia McPherson|March 5th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: adult, banded, collared, Cygnus columbianus, flock, grasses, ice, inset, male, marsh, mountains, Promontory Mountains, sky, snow, snow covered, swan, swans, Tundra Swan, U915, USGS, water, waterfowl, wetlands, Whistling Swan, winter|

Three days ago I found a collared Tundra Swan in a flock of swans at Bear River MBR. The blue collar caught my eye and I took photos of the swan.

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Big & Beautiful: Tundra Swans of Bear River MBR

By Mia McPherson|March 3rd, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: adult, alert, bath, bathing, bill, close, Cygnus columbianus, droplets, flight, flock, flying, goofy, ice shelf, immature, marsh, nips, Promontory Mountains, relaxing, resting, sky, snow, spot, swans, Tundra Swan, walking, water, waterfowl, wetlands, winter, young|

Yesterday morning I spent time with a flock of big, beautiful Tundra Swans at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I loved every moment that I had with the swans.

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Canada Geese Courtship: A Prelude To Spring

By Mia McPherson|February 18th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Canada Geese, Utah|Tags: adult, Bear River, Branta canadensis, Canada Geese, Canada Goose, frozen, geese, goose, grass, grasses, guard, ice, ranchlands, resting, river, river bottom, riverbank, snow, standing, waterfowl, winter|

February might seem early but I'm already noticing that Canada Geese are pairing up at Bear River MBR which is a prelude to the arrival of spring.

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Calling Mallard Drake In The City

By Mia McPherson|February 9th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Mallards, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: Anas platyrhynchos, bill, calling, city, dabbling ducks, drake, duck, ducks, male, Mallard, mallards, open, pond, urban, water, waterfowl, winter|

I enjoy photographing even the most abundant ducks at my local city ponds. I simply couldn't resist taking images of this calling Mallard drake two days ago.

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Bear River MBR: Winter Haven For Tundra Swans

By Mia McPherson|February 7th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: adult, azure, Cygnus columbianus, flight, flying, immature, marsh, sky, swan, swans, Tundra Swan, Tundra Swans, waterfowl, wetlands, winter, young|

I had hoped that this morning would be sunny so I could head to Bear River MBR to see, listen to, and photograph Tundra Swans on the marshes.

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