Wildlife – Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

Cicada Shell And The Photographer Who Took The Image

By Mia McPherson|August 17th, 2024|Categories: Arkansas, Cicadas, Sebastian County|Tags: bark, Canon, Cicada, cicadas, exoskeleton, exuvia, Mia McPherson, photographer, photographing, pine, pine tree, R7, shell, Steve Creek, summer, tree, tree trunk, trees|

This cicada shell on a pine tree was photographed by little old me in Arkansas yesterday. The photo of me taking this image is by my dear friend, Steve Creek.

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More New Butterflies At Sequoyah NWR!

By Mia McPherson|August 16th, 2024|Categories: Oklahoma, Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Silver-spotted Skipper Butterflies, Spicebush Swallowtail Butterflies, Viceroy Butterflies|Tags: adult, Arkansas River, Battus philenor, Bog Smartweed, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, butterflies, butterfly, Epargyreus clarus, grass, grasses, insects, Johnson Grass, Limenitis archippus, nectaring, Nekemias arborea, Papilio troilus, Peppervine, Persicaria setacea, Pipevine Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly, river, riverbank, Silver-spotted Skipper, Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly, skipper, skippers, Sorghum halepense, Spicebush Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly, summer, swallowtail, swallowtails, Viceroy, Viceroy butterfly, Viceroys, white wildflowers, wildflowers|

Yesterday, when I shared the pale young Raccoon, I mentioned that I also photographed some butterflies at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. Here they are!

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Pale Young Raccoon At Sequoyah NWR

By Mia McPherson|August 15th, 2024|Categories: Oklahoma, Raccoons, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, cinnamon colored, close up, immature, lighter, mammals, pale, pale face, portrait, Procyon lotor, Raccoon, raccoons, racoons, summer, young|

Seeing and photographing this unusual pale young Raccoon was one of the highlights of my morning at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. The Raccoon was lovely.

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Female Eastern Gray Squirrel Photos Plus A Video Clip

By Mia McPherson|August 12th, 2024|Categories: Arkansas, Eastern Gray Squirrels, Logan County, Mount Magazine State Park, Video|Tags: Arkansas, campground, Eastern Gray Squirrel, female, forest, gathering, hardwood forest, leaves, Logan County, mammals, Mount Magazine State Park, mountains, Sciurus carolinensis, squirrel, squirrels, tree squirrel, tree squirrels, video|

Today, I am sharing two photos and a short video clip of a female Eastern Gray Squirrel as she gathered leaves for her drey at Mount Magazine State Park.

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White-tailed Deer Doe Derrière Drama

By Mia McPherson|August 11th, 2024|Categories: Arkansas, Logan County, Mount Magazine State Park, White-tailed Deer|Tags: biting, bottom, butt, close up, deer, derrière, doe, female, forest, hardwood forest, itch, mountains, Odocoileus virginianus, scratching, summer, White-tailed Deer|

While at Mount Magazine State Park in Arkansas two days ago, I photographed a White-tailed Deer doe biting her own derrière, which made me laugh out loud.

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Springtime Raccoon At Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge

By Mia McPherson|August 10th, 2024|Categories: Oklahoma, Raccoons, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: adult, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, branches, leaves, mammals, morning light, Procyon lotor, Raccoon, raccoons, racoons, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, spring, sunrise, tree, willows|

I've been meaning to share this Raccoon photo since April. This image was taken on my second trip to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma this spring.

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Robber Fly Photos From Sequoyah NWR

By Mia McPherson|August 9th, 2024|Categories: Oklahoma, Robber Flies, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: Asilidae, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, gravel, insects, mating, resting, Robber Flies, Robber fly, side road, summer|

It's about time for me to share a few Robber Fly images that were taken at the end of July while walking the side roads of Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.

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Green Tree Frog Photos – Green On Green

By Mia McPherson|August 6th, 2024|Categories: American Green Tree Frogs, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: American Green Tree Frog, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, frog, frogs, grass, Green Tree Frog, hidden, Hyla cinerea, Johnson Grass, summer, tree frog, tree frogs|

Today's theme is green on green! These two Green Tree Frog images show different individual tree frogs, but both were on vibrant green grasses at Sequoyah NWR.

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Fox Squirrel Eating Acorns

By Mia McPherson|August 3rd, 2024|Categories: Arkansas, Fox Squirrels, Sebastian County|Tags: acorn, acorns, adult, chowing down, eating, Fox Squirrel, garden, male, mammals, nibbling, oak tree, Sciurus niger, squirrel, squirrels, summer, tree squirrel, tree squirrels, urban, yard|

Because of cloudy then scorching hot weather, I didn't get out to photograph yesterday morning. But the day before, I focused on a Fox Squirrel eating acorns.

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Lifer Flag-tailed Spinyleg Dragonfly Photos

By Mia McPherson|July 30th, 2024|Categories: Flag-tailed Spinyleg Dragonflies, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: adult, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, clubtail, clubtails, dragonflies, dragonfly, Dromogomphus spoliatus, Flag-tailed Spinyleg, Flag-tailed Spinyleg dragonfly, gravel, insects, path, summer|

While I was at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday, I took lifer Flag-tailed Spinyleg dragonfly images while walking a road with my friend Steve Creek.

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Differential And Two-striped Grasshopper Images

By Mia McPherson|July 28th, 2024|Categories: Differential Grasshoppers, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Two-striped Grasshoppers|Tags: adult, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, breeding, Differential Grasshopper, grass, grasses, grasshopper, grasshoppers, insects, Johnson Grass, mates, mating, Melanoplus bivittatus, Melanoplus differentialis, Sorghum halepense, summer, Two-striped Grasshopper|

Let's hop right into the photos I am sharing today! I took Differential and Two-striped Grasshopper images while walking around Sequoyah NWR with Steve Creek.

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Lifer Western Ribbon Snake At Sequoyah NWR

By Mia McPherson|July 25th, 2024|Categories: Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Western Ribbon Snakes|Tags: adult, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, close up, grass, grasses, head on, Johnson Grass, portrait, reptiles, ribbon snake, ribbon snakes, snake, snakes, Sorghum halepense, summer, Thamnophis proximus, Western Ribbon Snake|

Yesterday morning, I took my lifer Western Ribbon Snake photos at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. These ribbon snakes are small, I almost missed spotting it!

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White-tailed Deer Fawn In Oklahoma

By Mia McPherson|July 25th, 2024|Categories: Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, White-tailed Deer|Tags: bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, close up, deer, fawn, forest, mammals, Odocoileus virginianus summer, portrait, spots, tongue, up close, White-tailed Deer, young|

Incoming cute alert! This morning, I felt like sharing some adorable White-tailed Deer fawn photos I took at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge two days ago.

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Coyote On The Move At Sequoyah NWR

By Mia McPherson|July 24th, 2024|Categories: Coyotes, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Video|Tags: adult, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, Canis latrans, close up, Coyote, coyotes, female, field, grass, mammals, presumed female, soybeans, summer|

Yesterday, there was some excitement at the refuge. Steve Creek and I photographed a Bobcat and Coyote showdown, and then we followed the Coyote.

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Itty Bitty American Green Tree Frog Pictures

By Mia McPherson|July 23rd, 2024|Categories: American Green Tree Frogs, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: American Green Tree Frog, amphibians, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, frog, frogs, grass, grasses, Green Tree Frog, Hyla cinerea, immature, itty bitty, Johnson Grass, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Sorghum halepense, summer, tree frog, tree frogs, young|

I'm sticking with the green theme today. Earlier this morning, it was Green Heron images; now, it's itty bitty Green Tree Frog photos from Sequoyah NWR.

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Northern Cottonmouth Close Ups

By Mia McPherson|July 22nd, 2024|Categories: Northern Cottonmouths (Water Moccasins), Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, close up, gravel road, Northern Cottonmouth, portrait, reptiles, road, semi-aquatic, snake, snakes, summer, venomous snake, venomous snakes, Water Moccasin|

I was excited to see and photograph a Northern Cottonmouth on a gravel road at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge last week. The snake was very cooperative.

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Coyote Pup Portrait From Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge

By Mia McPherson|July 21st, 2024|Categories: Coyotes, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Video|Tags: bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, Canis latrans, close up, Coyote, coyotes, grasses, mammals, portrait, pup, side light, sidelit, summer, video, water droplets, young|

Some days are pure magic. Two days ago, at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, this Coyote pup made the day as magical as it could be and more.

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Hackberry Emperor Butterfly On The Hood

By Mia McPherson|July 20th, 2024|Categories: Hackberry Emperor Butterflies, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: adult, Asterocampa celtis, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, brushfooted, butterflies, butterfly, Hackberry Emperor, Hackberry Emperor butterfly, hood, spread, summer, Tacoma, Toyota, truck, windshield, wings|

While I was at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge yesterday morning, I had a very unique experience photographing a lovely Hackberry Emperor Butterfly.

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Common Eastern Velvet Ant Images

By Mia McPherson|July 18th, 2024|Categories: Arkansas, Common Eastern Velvet Ants, Sebastian County|Tags: adult, Common Eastern Velvet Ant, cow killer, Dasymutilla occidentalis, Dusty Miller, female, flowers, garden, male, parasitoid wasp, parasitoid wasps, Senecio cineraria, summer, urban, wasp, wasps, yard|

Yesterday, I took Common Eastern Velvet Ant images in Steve Creek's yard after seeing one of them on what I believe are Dusty Miller plants in his garden.

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Gray Treefrog On A Lotus Leaf

By Mia McPherson|July 15th, 2024|Categories: Gray Treefrogs, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: adult, American Lotus, aquatic wildflower, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, Complex Hyla versicolor, frog, frogs, Gray Treefrog, Gray Treefrog Species Complex, Hyla versicolor, leaf, Nelumbo lutea, Reeves Slough, slough, summer, tree frog, tree frogs, treefrog, treefrogs, water droplets, white wildflower, yellow wildflower|

This morning I am sharing a simple photo of an adult Gray Treefrog on a lotus leaf taken at Sequoyah NWR. Or is it so simple? Maybe it is more complex.

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American Green Tree Frog Images From Sequoyah NWR

By Mia McPherson|July 13th, 2024|Categories: American Green Tree Frogs, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: adult, American Green Tree Frog, American Lotus, amphibians, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, frog, frogs, Geen Treefrogs, Green Tree Frog, Hyla cinerea, lotus, lotuses, Nelumbo lutea, Reeves Slough, slough, summer, tree frog, tree frogs, treefrog, treefrogs, water|

I'm trying to get caught up with photos I haven't shared yet, so today I am sharing a few American Green Tree Frog photos I've taken at Sequoyah NWR recently.

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My Lifer Bobcat Photos At Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge

By Mia McPherson|July 11th, 2024|Categories: Bobcats, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: adult, Bobcat, bobcats, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, feline, felines, grass, grasses, gravel road, haze, itch, landscape, Lynx rufus, mammals, Oklahoma, road, scenic, scratching, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, shadows, sitting, summer, tree, trees|

Yesterday morning, I took my first Bobcat photos at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, thanks to my dear friend Steve Creek letting me know where it was.

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Summertime White-tailed Deer Doe At Sequoyah NWR

By Mia McPherson|July 10th, 2024|Categories: Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, White-tailed Deer|Tags: bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, cut, deer, defecating, doe, female, field, grazing, mammals, Odocoileus virginianus, Oklahoma, pooping, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, summer, wheat, White-tailed Deer|

On one of my recent trips to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, I had the pleasure of photographing a White-tailed Deer doe as she grazed in a cut wheat field.

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Blue Dasher Dragonfly Photo And Video

By Mia McPherson|July 8th, 2024|Categories: Blue Dasher Dragonflies, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: adult, Blue Dasher, Blue Dasher dragonfly, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, dasher, dashers, dragonflies, dragonfly, male, mite, odonata, Pachydiplax longipennis, perched, skimmer, skimmers, summer|

I'm a bird photographer who sometimes can't resist photographing other things with wings which includes this male Blue Dasher dragonfly I saw yesterday morning.

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Slaty Skimmer Dragonfly Photos

By Mia McPherson|July 2nd, 2024|Categories: American Lotus, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Slaty Skimmer Dragonflies|Tags: adult, American Lotus, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, bud, dragonflies, dragonfly, female, flower bud, insects, leaf, leaves, Libellula incesta, lotus, lotuses, male, native, Nelumbo lutea, odonata, Reeves Slough, seedpod, seedpods, skimmer, skimmers, Slaty Skimmer, Slaty Skimmer Dragonfly, slough, summer, water, white wildflowers, wildflowers, yellow wildflowers|

I took photos of Slaty Skimmer dragonflies the other day at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma and wanted to share them with you all.

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Baird’s Pocket Gopher Photos In Oklahoma

By Mia McPherson|June 19th, 2024|Categories: Baird's Pocket Gophers, Marshall County, Oklahoma|Tags: adult, Baird's Pocket Gopher, close up, digging, Eastern Pocket Gophers, Genus Geomys, Geomys breviceps, Gopher, gophers, mammals, Marshall County, Oklahoma, pocket gopher, pocket gophers, portrait, rodents|

Earlier this month, I was sitting on the steps enjoying the sunshine and the birds singing when, all of a sudden, I spotted a Baird's Pocket Gopher in the yard.

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Six-lined Racerunner Lizard!

By Mia McPherson|June 11th, 2024|Categories: Marshall County, Oklahoma, Six-lined Racerunners, Wildlife|Tags: Aspidoscelis sexlineatus, lizard, lizards, Marshall County, Oklahoma, racerunner, racerunners, reptiles, sandy area, Six-lined Racerunner, spring|

I'm seeing a few lizards in my yard here in south central Oklahoma including this spiffy looking racerunner lizard. I don't know which species it is yet though.

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American Beaver At Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge

By Mia McPherson|June 7th, 2024|Categories: American Beavers, Johnston County, Oklahoma, Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: adult, American Beaver, beaver, beavers, branches, Castor canadensis, grass, grasses, haze, leaves, looking up, mammals, road, Sandy Creek, spring, stick, tree, trees, tunnel, walking, wildflowers|

Yesterday morning, I had a wonderful surprise when an American beaver surfaced close to the Sandy Creek Bridge at Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge.

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Roadside Swamp Rabbit At Tishomingo NWR

By Mia McPherson|June 4th, 2024|Categories: Oklahoma, Swamp Rabbits, Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: adult, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, cottontail, cottontails, grass, grasses, mammals, rabbit, rabbits, road, roadside, spring, Swamp Rabbit, Sylvilagus aquaticus|

This Swamp Rabbit photo is from my second visit to Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge. I was on a gravel road as far as I could go before turning around when I saw it.

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Gray Hairstreak Butterfly On An Upright Prairie Coneflower

By Mia McPherson|June 3rd, 2024|Categories: Gray Hairstreak Butterflies, Oklahoma, Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: adult, blooming, blooms, blossoms, bottomland hardwood forests, bottomlands, butterflies, butterfly, coneflower, coneflowers, field, flowering, Gray Hairstreak, hairstreak, hairstreaks, nectaring, orange wildflowers, Ratibida columnifera, red wildflowers, spring, Strymon melinus, Upright Prairie Coneflower, wildflowers, yellow wildflowers|

When I visited Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge last week I spent some time photographing Gray Hairstreak butterflies, a butterfly species that is new to me.

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