My Daily Story Timeline
Every day, I write about the true stories behind my images and share them on my site. One day, I might write about birds; the next, about an insect; and the following day, I might focus on a specific location. Each of these stories revolves around nature, my connection to it, or my concerns about preserving our natural world. This daily journal primarily serves as a collection of factual accounts from my journeys in the field.
While my primary passion is for birds, since everything in nature is interconnected, I photograph everything and write about it all. My life has always been intertwined with nature, and I hope it always will be.
Best wishes,
Mia
National Squirrel Appreciation Day
January 21st is National Squirrel Appreciation Day and it recognizes these creatures that some people consider pests while others find them fascinating.
Mallard Hen On Slippery Ice
Last week I took a series of photos of a Mallard hen as she landed on slippery ice at a pond close to home in Salt Lake City.
A Cook’s Memorial? Odd Things I Find While Looking For Birds
As best as I can figure out what is in this photo is a cook's memorial that I found 7 years ago today out on a range in Utah's West Desert.
Adult American Coot Bathing
Three days ago I photographed this adult American Coot bathing on a sunny afternoon at a pond close to where I live in Salt Lake City.
Urban Raptor Photography
When I first moved to Utah in 2009 I never expected to be able to do urban raptor photography from my living room window.
Winter Common Mergansers
Yesterday and the day before I was able to observe and photograph winter Common Mergansers at my local pond on both sunny afternoons.
Photographing Winter Birds
I spent a couple of hours yesterday photographing winter birds at Farmington Bay WMA and closer to home in the morning and afternoon.
California Gull On Ice
I went down to my local pond yesterday afternoon where the first bird I photographed was an adult California Gull standing on thin ice.
Male American Kestrel Perched On A Sign
At the end of my trip to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge on January 6th the last bird I photographed was an adult male American Kestrel.
Where is Our Snow?
It is wintertime here in the Salt Lake Valley of northern Utah but given the lack of snow if it weren't for the cold temps you might not know that.
First Winter American Herring Gulls
I recently wrote about my excitement that American Herring Gulls have started showing up in northern Utah. Last week I was able to photograph some of them.
Common Raven On Ice
Last week when I visited Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I photographed several birds on the frozen marsh including a Common Raven on ice.
Immature Great Blue Heron On Ice
Three days ago I photographed an immature Great Blue Heron on ice from the auto tour route at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
My First Rough-legged Hawk of 2021
Two days ago I photographed my first Rough-legged Hawk of 2021 at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Or was it two?
Common Goldeneye Making Waves
Yesterday morning I took a series of a Common Goldeneye making waves as he landed in icy cold water in the marshes of Bear River MBR.
Brown Pelicans And Memories
Eleven years ago this morning I had an amazing time photographing flocks of Brown Pelicans plunge feeding in the Gulf of Mexico.
Pileated Woodpecker – The 2021 ABA Bird of The Year
The American Birding Association has selected the Pileated Woodpecker as their Bird of the Year for 2021 and I think it is an excellent choice.
First Winter Red-tailed Hawk Lift Off Photos
Last month I spent twenty-eight lovely minutes photographing this first winter Red-tailed Hawk in the marsh at Farmington Bay WMA.
Winter American Herring Gulls In Utah
Winter Herring Gulls have arrived in northern Utah and I am excited that I will have opportunities to photograph this gull species again.
European Starling – My First Of Year Bird 2021
The first bird I saw in 2021 was a European Starling perched on a power line on the road to my local grocery store about 8:15 am yesterday morning.
Happy New Year’s Day 2021
It is a chilly 29°F where I live in northern Utah on New Year's Day 2021 and from my living room window I can see that it is foggy outside.
2020 Photographic Year In Review
This is my 2020 photographic year in review. I'm selecting some of my favorite photos from 2020 and a few that just make me happy to see them.
Second Winter Black-crowned Night Heron
Yesterday morning at Farmington Bay I found and photographed a second winter Black-crowned Night Heron at the edge of the frozen marsh.
Young Female Northern Harrier In Flight
Last week I was able to photograph this young Northern Harrier flying over a marsh on a trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Immature Great Blue Heron On Christmas Day
One of my Christmas Day gifts from Mother Nature was the chance to photograph an immature Great Blue Heron in a field.
Which Bird Do These Feet Belong To?
What we can see are greenish, lobed feet and a dark, rounded body. With just those two identification features can you guess which bird these feet belong to?
Five Bird Photos From Christmas Day 2020
Much to my delight I was able to photograph some birds on Christmas Day at Farmington Bay WMA yesterday morning.
Christmas Day Bird Photos Thru The Years
Today I wanted to share some of the Christmas Day bird photos I have taken through the years out in the field and close to home.
Happy Holidays 2020
If you can't be with friends, family or loved ones this year because of the pandemic I hope that you will be able to talk to them and wish them Happy Holidays on the phone or via video chat.
Spring And Summer With A Belted Kingfisher Family
I was totally unaware on that April morning that I would be photographing a Belted Kingfisher family for several months.