{"id":28061,"date":"2015-09-01T11:42:33","date_gmt":"2015-09-01T17:42:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=28061"},"modified":"2026-03-04T08:18:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:18:56","slug":"welcome-september","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/09\/01\/welcome-september\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome September…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BlackBlack Skimmer on a September morning – 2008
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

September 2008 in Florida meant that I was getting excited not just about the cooler weather but also the birds that spent the summer breeding further north were arriving on their wintering grounds or would soon make their appearance. The humidity would drop and the skies seemed clearer (most days).<\/p>\n

\"PronghornPronghorn buck in rut showing flehmen response to nearby does – 2009
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

September in Montana means crisp, cool mornings, warm days and star-filled nights and it also meant seeing Pronghorn bucks on rut in Madison County. My first camping trip to Montana was a delight and staying at Cliff Lake made it even better in 2009.<\/p>\n

\"FemaleFemale Short-eared Owl on a foggy September morning – 2010
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in September means seeing the leaves high on the Centennial Mountains changing colors, mornings with a light frost on the ground and lake fog to start the day. In 2010 I spent 13 glorious minutes with this Short-eared Owl and developed memories of her that I hope never to forget.<\/p>\n

\"JuvenileJuvenile Chukar molting into adult plumage – 2011
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

September on Antelope Island always makes me think of the word “golden”, golden grasses, golden light in the morning and the “golden” fleeting feeling of the last of summer days. In 2011 I photographed this hatch year Chukar and while it looks kind of ratty I know that this young Chukar is only molting into its first adult plumage.<\/p>\n

\"JuvenileJuvenile Red-tailed perched on an outcropping of rocks – 2012
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

September used to be great on Antelope Island for juvenile Red-tailed Hawks too and I would find them quite often on the dark Farmington Complex rocks found near Frary Peak. This juvenile hung around the trail head parking area for several weeks in 2012. That year the vole population crashed and since then Red-tailed Hawks are hard to find on the island.<\/p>\n

\"JuvenileJuvenile Red-tailed Hawk perched on a boulder with red lichen – 2013
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Some Septembers in the Centennial Valley are a raptor lovers delight and in 2013 I was truly excited to finally photograph a Red-tailed Hawk on the reddish lichen covered boulders that I had dreamed about since the first time I went to the valley to camp.<\/p>\n

\"JuvenileA juvenile Swainson’s Hawk calling out to be fed – 2014
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

And in September of 2014 I was able to photograph a juvenile Swainson’s Hawk close enough to do portraits of the young butterscotch colored bird. I was in a parked vehicle and the juvenile Swainson’s was perched across the dirt road on a fence post not paying attention to the camera at all just the adult in the distance.<\/p>\n

\"GreatGreat Blue Heron and a large Carp – 2015
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

And so far September of 2015 has come in very birdy too with a morning trip to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and a Great Blue Heron with a large carp that it seemed determined to swallow. It walked around the reeds and I didn’t see if it did indeed swallow the fish.<\/p>\n

September… to be continued.<\/p>\n

Yeah, life is good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

My post is later than normal today because I ran out of time to prepare it before heading out the door to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I am glad I waited so I could include a September bird from 2015!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":153074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[511,124,1513,27,253,1148,1514,25,704,1512,12,2000,608,26],"tags":[4146,4096,4117,4114,3990,4170,4200,445,3987,185,4209,4211,3971,4034],"class_list":["post-28061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","category-beaverhead-county-montana","category-avian","category-black-skimmers","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-cliff-lake-montana","category-florida","category-fort-de-soto-county-park","category-madison-county-montana","category-montana","category-pinellas-county-florida","category-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge","category-utah","tag-alectoris-chukar","tag-antilocapra-americana","tag-ardea-herodias","tag-asio-flammeus","tag-black-skimmer","tag-buteo-jamaicensis","tag-buteo-swainsoni","tag-chukar","tag-great-blue-heron","tag-pronghorn","tag-red-tailed-hawk","tag-rynchops-niger","tag-short-eared-owl","tag-swainsons-hawk"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/great-blue-heron-carp-mia-mcpherson-3099.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-7iB","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7181,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/01\/19\/some-fun-with-birds-from-yesterday\/","url_meta":{"origin":28061,"position":0},"title":"Some Fun With Birds From Yesterday","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 19, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"A wonderful fun-filled day with great companionship and plenty of birds. I can't ask for more.","rel":"","context":"In "American Barn Owls"","block_context":{"text":"American Barn Owls","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/owls\/barn-owls\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Chukar running on a snow covered rock on Antelope Island State Park, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-snow-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-1790.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-snow-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-1790.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-snow-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-1790.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-snow-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-1790.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14944,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/05\/13\/monday-mornings-medley-of-birds-on-antelope-island\/","url_meta":{"origin":28061,"position":1},"title":"Monday Mornings Medley of Birds on Antelope Island","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 13, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Western Kingbird After several days of not being able to photograph birds because of bad weather I was pleasantly surprised to have a medley of birds to photograph on Antelope Island Monday.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Juvenile Horned Lark, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/horned-lark-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3260.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/horned-lark-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3260.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/horned-lark-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3260.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/horned-lark-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3260.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":101757,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/04\/24\/black-skimmer-photo-from-13-years-ago\/","url_meta":{"origin":28061,"position":2},"title":"Black Skimmer Photo From 13 Years Ago","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"It was thirteen years ago today when I took this photo of an adult Black Skimmer flying over the Gulf of Mexico in Pinellas County, Florida.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Black Skimmer flying over the Gulf of Mexico, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/black-skimmer-adult-flight-mia-mcpherson-7825.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/black-skimmer-adult-flight-mia-mcpherson-7825.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/black-skimmer-adult-flight-mia-mcpherson-7825.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/black-skimmer-adult-flight-mia-mcpherson-7825.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8749,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/06\/30\/and-we-have-lift-off\/","url_meta":{"origin":28061,"position":3},"title":"And We Have Lift Off!","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 30, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I wanted to share some bird lift off images today so I rounded up a few that showed different styles of lift offs.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Swainson's Hawk - Squat and push lift off","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/swainsons-hawk-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-2621.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/swainsons-hawk-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-2621.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/swainsons-hawk-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-2621.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/swainsons-hawk-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-2621.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5173,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/06\/13\/odd-black-skimmer-behavior\/","url_meta":{"origin":28061,"position":4},"title":"Odd Black Skimmer Behavior","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 13, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The Black Skimmer had a Mangrove seed pod in its bill and it was twirling the seed pod with its bill, at times the seed pod even went over the top of the bill but unfortunately I didn't get any images of that.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Black Skimmer with a mangrove seed pod, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/black-skimmer-mia-mcpherson-6367.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/black-skimmer-mia-mcpherson-6367.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/black-skimmer-mia-mcpherson-6367.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/black-skimmer-mia-mcpherson-6367.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9429,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/09\/12\/red-shouldered-hawk-from-sawgrass-lake-park-florida\/","url_meta":{"origin":28061,"position":5},"title":"Red-shouldered Hawk from Sawgrass Lake Park, Florida","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 12, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"There are five recognized subspecies of Red-shouldered Hawks with the Florida Red-shouldered Hawks having the palest heads and plumage. I believe this Red-shouldered Hawk adult is from the Florida race, Buteo lineatus extimus.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Red-shouldered Hawk perched in a pine tree at Sawgrass Lake Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/red-shouldered-hawk-adult-thumbnail-mia-mcpherson-0164.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/red-shouldered-hawk-adult-thumbnail-mia-mcpherson-0164.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/red-shouldered-hawk-adult-thumbnail-mia-mcpherson-0164.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28061"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28061\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/153074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}