{"id":9268,"date":"2013-09-09T03:45:17","date_gmt":"2013-09-09T09:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=9268"},"modified":"2026-04-15T12:03:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T17:03:16","slug":"i-know-why-i-love-this-scenic-image-of-red-rock-lakes-nwr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/09\/09\/i-know-why-i-love-this-scenic-image-of-red-rock-lakes-nwr\/","title":{"rendered":"I Know Why I Love This Scenic Image Of Red Rock Lakes NWR"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RedRed Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in spring<\/span><\/p>\n

I love the beautiful early morning\u00a0light, the wildflowers blooming in the foreground, how the sunlight is kissing the tops of the grasses and mountain tops, the snow and the lovely, fluffy clouds.<\/p>\n

There is fog hugging the hillside on the right side of the frame and this image shows the wide floor of the Centennial Valley. I feel like every memory of the morning I created this image comes flooding back to me in a gentle wave.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow… an image where I can’t explain why I love it.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my landscape and travel photos.<\/p>\n

* With any luck, \u00a0I should be on the road to Montana by the time you read this, please feel free to share this post with your friends & family.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I love the beautiful early morning light, the wildflowers blooming in the foreground, how the sunlight is kissing the tops of the grasses and mountain tops, the snow and the lovely, fluffy clouds. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":174900,"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":[1513,223,12,608,579],"tags":[224,4101,4175,191,4099,4069,4035,343,344,4018,4050,165,452,5434,4307],"class_list":["post-9268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beaverhead-county-montana","category-centennial-valley","category-montana","category-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge","category-valley","tag-centennial-mountains","tag-clouds","tag-fog","tag-landscapes","tag-morning-light","tag-mountains","tag-nature-photography","tag-photography","tag-scenery","tag-sky","tag-snow","tag-spring","tag-spring-time","tag-valley","tag-wildflowers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge-mia-mcpherson-5045.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-2pu","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15225,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/06\/17\/longing-for-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":9268,"position":0},"title":"Longing for Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"It is raining here in the valley this morning and snow is falling in the high country in the middle of June so I am sitting here dreaming of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"View of the Centennial Mountains from Wigeon Pond, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-7409.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-7409.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-7409.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-7409.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14392,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/02\/19\/the-centennial-valley-of-montana-beckons-to-me\/","url_meta":{"origin":9268,"position":1},"title":"The Centennial Valley of Montana beckons to me","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 19, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The Centennial Valley says \"home\" to me with the expansive views it offers of not only the valley but the Centennial Mountains and the Lower Lake and beyond. I find peace there.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Centennial Mountain rock face, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/centennial-mountains-mia-mcpherson-7337.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/centennial-mountains-mia-mcpherson-7337.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/centennial-mountains-mia-mcpherson-7337.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/centennial-mountains-mia-mcpherson-7337.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2551,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/06\/19\/red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge-rockin-weather\/","url_meta":{"origin":9268,"position":2},"title":"Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge – Rockin’ Weather","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 19, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"While at the refuge it rained, it hailed, there was thunder, lighting and at times even gale force winds but the biggest weather surprise after leaving the refuge was seeing snow falling lightly near Lima, MT... in June.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Stormy sky over the Lower Lake of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-stormy-skies-mia-mcpherson-2432.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-stormy-skies-mia-mcpherson-2432.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-stormy-skies-mia-mcpherson-2432.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-stormy-skies-mia-mcpherson-2432.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8543,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/06\/07\/stay-tuned\/","url_meta":{"origin":9268,"position":3},"title":"Stay Tuned","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 7, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Stay tuned ... For more images from my Montana trip, it was awesome.","rel":"","context":"In "Montana"","block_context":{"text":"Montana","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sunlight, clouds, and shadows over Red Rock Lakes NWR, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-sunlight-shadows-clouds-mia-mcpherson-5406.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-sunlight-shadows-clouds-mia-mcpherson-5406.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-sunlight-shadows-clouds-mia-mcpherson-5406.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-sunlight-shadows-clouds-mia-mcpherson-5406.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8306,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/05\/06\/owl-see-you-at-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":9268,"position":4},"title":"Owl See You at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 6, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I've said before that owls fascinate me; probably more times than I can count, and Short-eared Owls are always a delight.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Short-eared Owl with prey for his young, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/short-eared-owl-mia-mcpherson-8724.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/short-eared-owl-mia-mcpherson-8724.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/short-eared-owl-mia-mcpherson-8724.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/short-eared-owl-mia-mcpherson-8724.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5268,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/06\/30\/clearing-storm-at-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":9268,"position":5},"title":"Clearing Storm at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 30, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"As many of my regular viewers know I love Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana. Just by being there I can feel my blood pressure drop, a sense of peace flows through my body and my mind (and camera) focuses on the wonders and intricacies of nature.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Morning delight at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-nwr-clearing-storm-mia-mcpherson-2-7475.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-nwr-clearing-storm-mia-mcpherson-2-7475.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-nwr-clearing-storm-mia-mcpherson-2-7475.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-nwr-clearing-storm-mia-mcpherson-2-7475.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\/9268","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=9268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9268\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/174900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}