![\"Pronghorns](\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pronghorn-flaming-gorge-mia-mcpherson-0836.jpg\" "\\"Pronghorns")
Pronghorns of Antelope Flat, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Daggett County, Utah, UT –\u00a0 Nikon D300, f7.1, 1\/2500, ISO 800, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\nI am behind on processing (that really isn’t news<\/em>) but earlier this week I edited some files from a camping trip I made in September of 2011 to the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area located in northeast Utah so I had this file on hand.<\/p>\n I photographed this group of Pronghorns in an area known as Antelope Flat which really seems like a fitting name since I saw so many Pronghorn there.<\/p>\n Because I was there during the Pronghorn rut I was able to observe and photograph a Pronghorn buck trying to keep control of his does.<\/p>\n I’ll do a post on them soon but for now I wanted to share one image of that buck’s “ladies” taken in the early morning light.<\/p>\n I photographed this adult Black-crowned Night Heron in early morning light at the Bear River National Wildlife Refuge in northern Utah as it stood on a\u00a0mound of dead Bulrushes.<\/p>\n I find the very long white occipital plume, cherry red eyes and the colors of this night heron\u00a0appealing and beautiful.<\/p>\n Unlike the Black-crowned Night Herons in Florida that I found easy to approach I have noticed that this species in Utah is far more difficult to get close to so I am always pleased when one poses within range as this one did.<\/p>\n I was a bit further away from this male American Kestrel on the Antelope Island causeway than I would have liked to have been when I photographed it but I loved the setting, the pose of the falcon, the soft light and the frosted vegetation.<\/p>\n I also enjoy having my subjects “small in the frame” at times and believe they can be compelling and appealing images. Besides; I adore American Kestrels and will photograph them at every opportunity!<\/p>\n There is a story behind this Long-tailed Weasel photo that I will do a post on another time but I wanted to share this one file for now.<\/p>\n This Long-tailed Weasel is in its summer coat, in the winter the coat becomes all white with the exception of a black tipped tail. I’m still hoping to get images of them in the winter because they are especially beautiful then.<\/p>\n They may be beautiful but Long-tailed Weasels have a reputation for being ferocious and they will even kill and cannibalize their own species. I would not want to mess with these weasels!<\/p>\n Have a terrific Friday!<\/p>\n Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n Mia<\/p>\n Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my bird photos and here<\/a><\/span> for mammals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For today’s Friday Photos I am mixing it up a bit and posting images of Pronghorns, a Black-crowned Night Heron, a Long-tailed Weasel and an American Kestrel. Please enjoy!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":116676,"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":[152,511,124,321,981,1157,183,26],"tags":[155,4291,4096,1533,4008,3981,4199,4078,4279,627,626,6276,4892,2416,4035,1162,3956,3957,4292,185,2774,2775,4032],"class_list":["post-4071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-kestrel","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","category-black-crowned-night-herons","category-flaming-gorge-national-recreation-area","category-long-tailed-weasels","category-pronghorn","category-utah","tag-american-kestrel","tag-antelope-flat","tag-antilocapra-americana","tag-black-crowned-night-heron","tag-box-elder-county","tag-davis-county","tag-falco-sparverius","tag-falcon","tag-falcons","tag-heron","tag-herons","tag-kestrel","tag-kestrels","tag-long-tailed-weasel","tag-nature-photography","tag-neogale-frenata","tag-night-heron","tag-night-herons","tag-nycticorax-nycticorax","tag-pronghorn","tag-weasel","tag-weasels","tag-wildlife-photography"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/long-tailed-weasel-mia-mcpherson-5703.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-13F","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":109677,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/01\/18\/immature-black-crowned-night-heron\/","url_meta":{"origin":4071,"position":0},"title":"Immature Black-crowned Night Heron – Where Are The Birds?","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 18, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"While going through my archives I found this photo of a fishing immature Black-crowned Night Heron taken 10 years ago today at Farmington Bay WMA.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature Black-crowned Night Heron fishing, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/black-crowned-night-heron-young-fishing-mia-mcpherson-2077.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/black-crowned-night-heron-young-fishing-mia-mcpherson-2077.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/black-crowned-night-heron-young-fishing-mia-mcpherson-2077.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/black-crowned-night-heron-young-fishing-mia-mcpherson-2077.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58333,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/06\/03\/highlights-of-my-bird-photography-trip-yesterday-to-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":4071,"position":1},"title":"Highlights Of My Bird Photography Trip Yesterday to Bear River MBR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"When a bird photography trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge starts with me spotting not just one but two Snowy Plovers out on the flats I just know the day is off to a great start and that is what happened yesterday morning.","rel":"","context":"In "American Avocets"","block_context":{"text":"American Avocets","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/shorebirds\/american-avocets\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Black-crowned Night Heron adult hunting in the marsh, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/black-crowned-night-heron-marsh-mia-mcpherson-5630.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-crowned-night-heron-marsh-mia-mcpherson-5630.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/black-crowned-night-heron-marsh-mia-mcpherson-5630.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/black-crowned-night-heron-marsh-mia-mcpherson-5630.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48321,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/09\/01\/welcome-september-autumn-pronghorns\/","url_meta":{"origin":4071,"position":2},"title":"Welcome September – Autumn Pronghorns","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The first of September means the start of Autumn to me. It means the oaks in the high country have already begun to turn red.","rel":"","context":"In "Daggett County"","block_context":{"text":"Daggett County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/daggett-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pronghorns at Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Antelope Flat, Daggett County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pronghorn-flaming-gorge-mia-mcpherson-9903.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pronghorn-flaming-gorge-mia-mcpherson-9903.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pronghorn-flaming-gorge-mia-mcpherson-9903.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pronghorn-flaming-gorge-mia-mcpherson-9903.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7033,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/01\/06\/juvenile-black-crowned-night-heron-a-winter-treat\/","url_meta":{"origin":4071,"position":3},"title":"Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron – A Winter Treat","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 6, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I've mentioned before that Great Blue Herons stay in the Salt Lake Valley over winter even though the temperatures get very cold and so do some of the Black-crowned Night Herons.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature Black-crowned Night Heron, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/black-crowned-night-heron-immature-ice-mia-mcpherson-8088.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/black-crowned-night-heron-immature-ice-mia-mcpherson-8088.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/black-crowned-night-heron-immature-ice-mia-mcpherson-8088.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/black-crowned-night-heron-immature-ice-mia-mcpherson-8088.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7181,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/01\/19\/some-fun-with-birds-from-yesterday\/","url_meta":{"origin":4071,"position":4},"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":4348,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/02\/09\/flaming-gorge-national-recreation-a\/","url_meta":{"origin":4071,"position":5},"title":"Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 9, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Last September I visited Flaming Gorge National Recreation area for the first time. Wow, nature never ceases to delight and amaze me.","rel":"","context":"In "Bighorn Sheep"","block_context":{"text":"Bighorn Sheep","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/bighorn-sheep\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"View of Flaming Gorge from the Dowd Mountain Overlook, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Daggett County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/flaming-gorge-mia-mcpherson-5748.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/flaming-gorge-mia-mcpherson-5748.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/flaming-gorge-mia-mcpherson-5748.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/flaming-gorge-mia-mcpherson-5748.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4071","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=4071"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4071\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/116676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Black-crowned](\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/black-crowned-night-heron-adult-mia-mcpherson-4613.jpg\" "\\"Black-crowned")
\u00a0Black-crowned Night Heron adult,\u00a0 Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, UT – Nikon D200, f5.6, 1\/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 330mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n![\"American](\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/american-kestrel-male-rabbitbrush-mia-mcpherson-1677_001.jpg\" "\\"American")
\u00a0American Kestrel male on frosty rabbitbrush, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, UT –\u00a0 Nikon D300, f6.3, 1\/1250, ISO 800, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Long-tailed](\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/long-tailed-weasel-mia-mcpherson-5703.jpg\" "\\"Long-tailed")
\u00a0Long-tailed Weasel in summer coat,\u00a0Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, UT –\u00a0Nikon D200, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 200mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n