Photographer and Author

About Mia McPherson

I am Mia McPherson. I became seriously passionate about bird photography while living in Florida. After my move West in 2009 I have spent much of my time photographing birds in Utah, Idaho, Montana, and beyond. As a nature lover, bird and wildlife photographer, I have a passion for capturing the beauty and grace of birds and wildlife in their natural habitats.
Life is good.

Fall Great Blue Heron Flasher

By |September 29th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Great Blue Herons, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Earlier this week, I found this adult Great Blue Heron in a Flasher pose while resting on a human-made nest in a pond at Farmington Bay WMA in northern Utah.

Male Lesser Goldfinch Under A Leafy Umbrella

By |September 28th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Lesser Goldfinches, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Having fast reflexes and being able to stop my Jeep quickly helped me photograph this male Lesser Goldfinch under a leafy umbrella three days ago.

Interior West White-crowned Sparrow Adult

By |September 27th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, White-crowned Sparrows|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I was at Farmington Bay WMA on Monday, I found and photographed a gorgeous Interior West White-crowned Sparrow adult perched on a Greasewood shrub.

Snowy Egret In Marsh Morning Light

By |September 26th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Snowy Egrets, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One of the first birds I photographed this autumn was this fluffed-up Snowy Egret glowing in a natural spotlight in the marsh at Farmington Bay WMA.

Cabbage White Butterfly Photos

By |September 23rd, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Cabbage White Butterflies, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning, I'm sharing a few photos of male Cabbage White butterflies and Common Sunflowers that I took last Sunday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

Late Summer Barn Swallow Delight

By |September 22nd, 2023|Categories: Barn Swallows, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was thoroughly delighted to capture several late summer Barn Swallow photos during my last trip to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I was truly thrilled.

Late Summer Baby Pied-billed Grebes

By |September 20th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Pied-billed Grebes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my most recent trip to Bear River MBR, I had a huge thrill. I found four baby Pied-billed Grebes still in their striped juvenile plumage in the marsh.

American White Pelican And Golden Light

By |September 18th, 2023|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning, at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, the first bird I photographed was an adult American White Pelican in early morning golden light.

Yellow Warbler And Golden Quaking Aspen Leaves

By |September 17th, 2023|Categories: Birds, East Canyon, Morgan County, Quaking Aspens, Utah, Wasatch Mountains, Yellow Warblers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Three years ago today, I was up in the Wasatch Mountains, focused on a bright Yellow Warbler snugly nestled in a hawthorn tree on a hillside.

Male Variegated Meadowhawk Dragonfly Photos

By |September 14th, 2023|Categories: Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah, Variegated Meadowhawk, Wildlife|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I last visited Farmington Bay WMA, I found flights of Variegated Meadowhawk dragonflies on the wing and resting, near and on Goose Egg Island.

Adult Eurasian Collared-Dove

By |September 13th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Eurasian Collared-Doves, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday, I shared some Mourning Dove photos taken at Farmington Bay WMA. Today, my subject is a Eurasian Collared-Dove also photographed on the same day.

One Chonky American Goldfinch

By |September 11th, 2023|Categories: American Goldfinches, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I was at Farmington Bay WMA last week, I had a chonky American Goldfinch fly in and land on a greasewood in front of me. Of course, I took photos of it.

Nature Center Parking Lot Lesser Goldfinch

By |September 10th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Lesser Goldfinches, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I photographed this Lesser Goldfinch from the nature center parking lot of Farmington Bay WMA last week. Would you have known that if I hadn't mentioned it?

Jagged Ambush Bug Pictures

By |September 9th, 2023|Categories: Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Jagged Ambush Bugs, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On my last trip to Farmington Bay WMA, I stopped to photograph wild Common Sunflowers near the nature center and spotted a Jagged Ambush Bug on one of them.

Late Summer Long-tailed Weasel Photos

By |September 8th, 2023|Categories: Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Long-tailed Weasels, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was super excited to take Long-tailed Weasel photos yesterday morning while I was looking for birds to photograph at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area.

Franklin’s Gull Images – Better Late Than Never

By |September 3rd, 2023|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Franklin's Gulls, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I took these Franklin's Gull images at Farmington Bay WMA nearly a year ago. I suppose it's better late than never to share the photos with you all today.

International Vulture Awareness Day 2023

By |September 2nd, 2023|Categories: Birds, Black Vultures, Box Elder County, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Turkey Vultures, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today is International Vulture Awareness Day 2023. I admit to having a soft spot for vultures because they are often misunderstood, and because I tend to stand up for those who have no voice.

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