{"id":58096,"date":"2019-05-23T06:14:13","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T12:14:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=58096"},"modified":"2022-10-02T06:53:44","modified_gmt":"2022-10-02T12:53:44","slug":"why-this-bad-weather-gets-me-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/05\/23\/why-this-bad-weather-gets-me-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Why This Bad Weather Gets Me Down"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Weather

Weather Map May 23, 2019<\/p><\/div>\n

We’ve had cloudy and sometimes rainy weather for quite some time now in northern Utah with storms rolling in one after the other and it does prevent me from getting out into the field with the birds. Most places I go out to when I am looking for birds to photograph are on dirt roads and some of them have been too muddy to travel on this spring, some have been closed longer than they normally are because of being so muddy.<\/p>\n

Some of the passes I take which are usually open by this time of the year are still closed too due to so much snow in the high country. I can handle some of the roads being closed to traffic because of the weather but what is hard for me to handle is what I am<\/em> missing.<\/p>\n

Because of gray skies, sunless days, high winds, and rainy weather I’m missing some of the best times for breeding behaviors, courtship displays, nest building, and newly hatched chicks running around. I’ve already seen young Canada Goose goslings in the water with their parents and fluffy Killdeer chicks in the marshes at Bear River MBR but I know I am missing so<\/em> much more.<\/p>\n

Most places I travel to when I am looking for birds are miles away and it doesn’t seem logical to head to them when the chances for any decent light are slim to nil but I keep an eye out for sucker holes in the clouds and then calculate whether it is worth going or not. Why? Because I want to see and<\/em> photograph the birds I find.<\/p>\n

Up in the high country I’d bet that the sapsuckers and flickers have begun to drill new nests in aspens to raise their young in while Tree Swallows and House Wrens compete to have control of their old nests to raise their own broods in this year and I can’t get there to see them. I know I am missing a lot.<\/p>\n

Yes, I know we need the moisture. I just miss being in the field with the birds and my camera. I miss the moments of awe and wonder I find when I am out in nature. Even three days at home is trying for me because I’d rather be out with the birds.<\/p>\n

Hi, I am Mia and I am addicted to bird photography.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We’ve had cloudy and sometimes rainy weather for quite some time now in northern Utah with storms rolling in one after the other and it does prevent me from getting out into the field with the birds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":58097,"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":[27,510],"tags":[7219,4101,1023,4501,1143,7218],"class_list":["post-58096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-frustrations-in-bird-photography","tag-bad-weather","tag-clouds","tag-frustrations-in-bird-photography1","tag-rain","tag-storms","tag-weather-map"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/may-23-2019-weather-map.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-f72","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":96741,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/10\/27\/well-crap-another-cloudy-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":58096,"position":0},"title":"Well Crap – Another Cloudy Day","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"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.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Hatch year Great Blue Heron pooping on the flats, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/great-blue-heron-hatch-year-pooping-mia-mcpherson-0377.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/great-blue-heron-hatch-year-pooping-mia-mcpherson-0377.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/great-blue-heron-hatch-year-pooping-mia-mcpherson-0377.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/great-blue-heron-hatch-year-pooping-mia-mcpherson-0377.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44271,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/01\/07\/frustrations-of-bird-photography-at-below-freezing-temps\/","url_meta":{"origin":58096,"position":1},"title":"Frustrations of Bird Photography at Below Freezing Temps – Heat Waves Suck","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 7, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Every single image I took yesterday was way softer than they would have been had it not been for those heat waves coming up the side of the pickup. To say I was disappointed is putting it lightly.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rough-legged Hawk on a snow-covered hill, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-on-mound-of-snow-mia-mcpherson-3087.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-on-mound-of-snow-mia-mcpherson-3087.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-on-mound-of-snow-mia-mcpherson-3087.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-on-mound-of-snow-mia-mcpherson-3087.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61820,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/11\/29\/winter-weather-and-low-light-bird-photography-ahead\/","url_meta":{"origin":58096,"position":2},"title":"Winter Weather And Low Light Bird Photography Ahead","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 29, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I actually like photographing birds in a snow storm because the low light situations test my skills, the limits of my gear and the resulting photos often have a moody feeling to them.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ring-billed Gulls in a snow storm fighting over a crayfish, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ring-billed-gulls-food-snow-storm-mia-mcpherson-5849.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ring-billed-gulls-food-snow-storm-mia-mcpherson-5849.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ring-billed-gulls-food-snow-storm-mia-mcpherson-5849.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ring-billed-gulls-food-snow-storm-mia-mcpherson-5849.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55176,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/11\/30\/low-light-california-gull-in-flight-during-a-snow-storm\/","url_meta":{"origin":58096,"position":3},"title":"Low Light California Gull In Flight During A Snow Storm","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"During the winter I have opportunities to photograph California Gulls in flight in snow storms in low light and while images like this one aren't appealing to everyone's tastes I like them a lot.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"California Gull in flight during a snow storm, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-snow-storm-flight-mia-mcpherson-6257.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-snow-storm-flight-mia-mcpherson-6257.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-snow-storm-flight-mia-mcpherson-6257.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/california-gull-snow-storm-flight-mia-mcpherson-6257.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55738,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/01\/18\/angry-looking-redhead-drake\/","url_meta":{"origin":58096,"position":4},"title":"Angry Looking Redhead Drake","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 18, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"This Redhead isn't \"angry\" at all but it does look angry to my eyes and this morning I'm feeling about as angry as this duck looks. I'll explain but first I have to give a bit more information about how my mornings start.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Angry looking Redhead drake in a snow storm, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/redhead-duck-drake-low-light-snow-angry-mia-mcpherson-6655.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/redhead-duck-drake-low-light-snow-angry-mia-mcpherson-6655.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/redhead-duck-drake-low-light-snow-angry-mia-mcpherson-6655.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/redhead-duck-drake-low-light-snow-angry-mia-mcpherson-6655.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2176,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/04\/07\/birds-close-to-home\/","url_meta":{"origin":58096,"position":5},"title":"Birds – Close To Home","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 7, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"I can take advantage of the sucker holes by photographing birds close to home when the sun breaks through the clouds.","rel":"","context":"In "American Robins"","block_context":{"text":"American Robins","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/thrushes\/american-robins\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Robin near the Jordan River, Jordan River Parkway Trail, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-robin-utah-mia-mcpherson-1138.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-robin-utah-mia-mcpherson-1138.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-robin-utah-mia-mcpherson-1138.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-robin-utah-mia-mcpherson-1138.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\/58096","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=58096"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58096\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}