{"id":57082,"date":"2019-04-05T06:28:28","date_gmt":"2019-04-05T12:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=57082"},"modified":"2024-10-25T18:51:00","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T23:51:00","slug":"sometimes-great-views-are-all-i-get","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/04\/05\/sometimes-great-views-are-all-i-get\/","title":{"rendered":"Sometimes Great Views Are All I Get"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Sometimes I go out to look for birds to photograph and all I get are great views of the scenery, sometimes I am okay with that and sometimes it is very frustrating.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter wp-image-135990 size-full\" title=\"West Desert Mountain Views\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-desert-views-mia-mcpherson-100432.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-desert-views-mia-mcpherson-100432.jpg\" alt=\"West Desert mountain views, Stansbury Mountains, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27900%27%20height%3D%27506%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20900%20506%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27900%27%20height%3D%27506%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-desert-views-mia-mcpherson-100432-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-desert-views-mia-mcpherson-100432-250x141.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-desert-views-mia-mcpherson-100432-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-desert-views-mia-mcpherson-100432-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-desert-views-mia-mcpherson-100432-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-desert-views-mia-mcpherson-100432-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-desert-views-mia-mcpherson-100432-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-desert-views-mia-mcpherson-100432.jpg 900w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><span style=\"color: #808080;\">West Desert Mountain Views &#8211; Samsung cell phone image<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Yesterday the first raptor I spotted would have been in great light, it was perched on a gnarly, old juniper fence post instead of an ugly metal post and it may have been easy to approach because it was battling a strong breeze to stay perched.<\/p>\n<p>But&#8230; I didn&#8217;t get any photos of that hawk because two ranchers pulled up in their pickups and parked in the area and that essentially made going down the dirt track towards the bird a no go. I don&#8217;t like no goes and find them very frustrating.<\/p>\n<p>Then when I spotted several Red-tailed Hawks flying in the thermals over a hillside I was on the wrong side of the birds so they were in bad light.<\/p>\n<p>There are just days when things don&#8217;t go right in bird photography. Clouds come in from no where or a gentle breeze turns into gale force winds. Other people scare the subject away. The subject won&#8217;t turn and face me. I&#8217;m not in the right location to have good light on my subject or I am a few seconds late and miss a fantastic series of shots that I can see with my naked eyes. There are just so many things that can and often do go wrong that it is impractical to list them here.<\/p>\n<p>But here in Utah there are always great views to enjoy. Whether I am in the desert, mountains, Red Rock country, canyons, alpine meadows, forests, marshes or grasslands I can always count on having incredible views of the lands around me and I appreciate that immensely.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes I take photos of the scenery and sometimes I simply store the views away in my memories. The days I don&#8217;t take photos of birds aren&#8217;t total wastes of time; for instance, because of my basically photo less journey yesterday I now know some Red-tailed Hawks may be frequenting a canyon where I haven&#8217;t seen any in a while. Some of the days where I don&#8217;t take photos of birds are nice rides into the countryside or moments of solitude where I just soak in all the nature I can see. Being outside in nature is never a loss.<\/p>\n<p>Life <em>is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n<p>Mia<\/p>\n<p>I took one photo yesterday of an empty hawk nest.<\/p>\n<p>This photo is a cell phone snap from last December taken in the Stansbury Mountains of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/west-desert\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">West Desert<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sometimes I go out to look for birds to photograph and all I get are great views of the scenery, sometimes I am okay with that and sometimes it is very frustrating.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":135990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1316,358,26,1314],"tags":[508,1023,4069,4057,344,4018,4093,4076],"class_list":["post-57082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stansbury-mountains-utah","category-tooele-county","category-utah","category-west-desert-utah","tag-frustrations","tag-frustrations-in-bird-photography1","tag-mountains","tag-sagebrush","tag-scenery","tag-sky","tag-snow-covered","tag-trees"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-desert-views-mia-mcpherson-100432.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-eQG","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":60311,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/09\/19\/west-desert-views-while-looking-for-birds\/","url_meta":{"origin":57082,"position":0},"title":"West Desert Views While Looking For Birds","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I like to share some of the views I see while I am out wandering to look for birds because the scenery and different habitats I see at times are simply spectacular.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Stansbury Mountain Range view, Stansbury Mountains, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/stansbury-mountain-views-mia-mcpherson-0208.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/stansbury-mountain-views-mia-mcpherson-0208.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/stansbury-mountain-views-mia-mcpherson-0208.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/stansbury-mountain-views-mia-mcpherson-0208.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":96080,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/10\/10\/october-west-desert-views-of-clouds-mountains-and-the-moon\/","url_meta":{"origin":57082,"position":1},"title":"October West Desert Views Of Clouds, Mountains, And The Moon","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I wanted to share these photos of some West Desert views of clouds, mountains, and the moon because I'd like to be out there seeing and photographing them all.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Stansbury Mountains&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Stansbury Mountains","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/stansbury-mountains-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"October West Desert view, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/west-desert-october-view-mia-mcpherson-6909.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/west-desert-october-view-mia-mcpherson-6909.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/west-desert-october-view-mia-mcpherson-6909.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/west-desert-october-view-mia-mcpherson-6909.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":116873,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/10\/09\/red-tailed-hawk-on-a-west-desert-weather-station\/","url_meta":{"origin":57082,"position":2},"title":"Red-tailed Hawk On A West Desert Weather Station","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 9, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"A West Desert weather station wasn't the prettiest perch, but that is where I found this handsome Red-tailed Hawk last week when I went looking for birds.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Red-tailed Hawk on a West Desert weather station, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/red-tailed-hawk-adult-weather-station-mia-mcpherson-2185.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/red-tailed-hawk-adult-weather-station-mia-mcpherson-2185.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/red-tailed-hawk-adult-weather-station-mia-mcpherson-2185.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/red-tailed-hawk-adult-weather-station-mia-mcpherson-2185.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57863,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/05\/15\/chipping-sparrows-wild-turkeys-and-broad-tailed-hummingbirds\/","url_meta":{"origin":57082,"position":3},"title":"Chipping Sparrows, Wild Turkeys and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The gems of my photographic journey yesterday morning were Broad-tailed Hummingbirds that were hanging around a Wax Currant bush next to the dirt road where the sounds of their wings alerted me to their presence.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Hovering male Broad-tailed Hummingbird, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/broad-tailed-hummingbird-mountains-male-mia-mcpherson-7021.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/broad-tailed-hummingbird-mountains-male-mia-mcpherson-7021.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/broad-tailed-hummingbird-mountains-male-mia-mcpherson-7021.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/broad-tailed-hummingbird-mountains-male-mia-mcpherson-7021.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26835,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/07\/22\/west-desert-wanderings-thrashers-and-hawks\/","url_meta":{"origin":57082,"position":4},"title":"West Desert Wanderings &#8211; Thrashers and Hawks","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 22, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I went wandering in the West Desert of Utah yesterday because the views are always great and because I hoped to find a few birds.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Sage Thrasher with prey in Tooele County, West Desert, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-prey-mia-mcpherson-6931.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-prey-mia-mcpherson-6931.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-prey-mia-mcpherson-6931.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-prey-mia-mcpherson-6931.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":74534,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/10\/10\/adult-white-crowned-sparrow-perched-on-a-stump\/","url_meta":{"origin":57082,"position":5},"title":"Adult White-crowned Sparrow Perched On A Stump","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"This is a really simple photo with three features, the White-crowned Sparrow, the stump, and a very dark background.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult White-crowned Sparrow on a stump, Stansbury Mountains, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/white-crowned-sparrow-adult-stump-mia-mcpherson-2492.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/white-crowned-sparrow-adult-stump-mia-mcpherson-2492.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/white-crowned-sparrow-adult-stump-mia-mcpherson-2492.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57082","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=57082"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57082\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/135990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}