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
Photographing Blooming Glacier Lilies
I enjoyed my journey to photograph the Glacier Lilies yesterday, it was quiet, peaceful and very relaxing. No news, no negativity, and not thinking about what a mess our world is in helped me to de-stress.
Adult Male American Avocet Stretching His Wings
Six years ago in early April I went to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and photographed this male American Avocet stretching his wings while his head was low to the water.
Male Burrowing Owl At His Burrow Plus Waking To An Empty Amber Alert
One year ago today I spent time photographing an adult male Burrowing Owl at his burrow that was surrounded by Redstem Filaree, a pink wildflower.
Finding Wild Turkey Hens Roosting In Aspens
I got out into the field for a little while yesterday morning and because of the observation skills I have developed over many years I was able to find two Wild Turkey hens roosting in Aspen trees.
My First Of Year Snowy Egret Sightings
Three days ago I spotted my first of the year Snowy Egret at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge when two egrets flew out of a ditch on the way to the auto tour loop.
Fledgling Short-eared Owl Parallaxing From An Old Wooden Post
The young Short-eared Owl in this photo was parallaxing when I photographed it in which basically means the fledgling owl was moving its head to gain different viewpoints.
Adult Eared Grebe At Bear River MBR Plus A 4.2 Aftershock
The light yesterday morning was a little bit funky because of high, thin clouds overhead but I took a few photos of the birds that I was able to get close to including one of the Eared Grebes.
Roadside Mourning Dove in Morning Light
Mourning Doves aren't flashy but I think they are handsome birds and that their calls are hauntingly beautiful.
Photographing Willow Flycatchers
Once I'm in Willow Flycatcher habitat the next thing I do is to listen for them. I often hear Willow Flycatchers before I see them because they can blend into their habitat well.
My First Of Year Gray Catbird – Heard But Not Seen
On April 2nd in a canyon in some mountains of the West Desert of Utah I heard a familiar call, the mewing call of a Gray Catbird while I was looking for birds to photograph.
Thermoregulating Turkey Vulture Close Up
Mornings have still been fairly chilly here in northern Utah and the Turkey Vultures that recently arrived on spring migration have been taking advantage of the rising sun by thermoregulating to help chase off the chill.
West Desert Wild Turkey Tom Strutting And Displaying
I took hundreds of photos of the tom Wild Turkey fanning his tail, walking on the dirt road, strutting and displaying for the hens I could not see. And for those moments all seemed right in the world.
Yellow-bellied Marmot High Up On A Cliff
I have taken thousands of images of Yellow-bellied Marmots where the marmots have been closer but very few of them that include as much habitat as this photo does.
Adult Male Red-naped Sapsucker With Food For His Chicks
The adult Red-naped Sapsuckers often clung to the entrance to the nesting cavity for a few seconds before they went inside with the food they had gathered to give to their chicks.
My Rare Mountain Plover Sighting Happened Almost Seven Years Ago
My rare Mountain Plover sighting happened almost seven years ago on Antelope Island State Park when I spotted, identified and photographed of the plovers during spring migration.
Photographing Nesting Williamson’s Sapsuckers
For one and a half wonderful nesting seasons I was thrilled to photograph a pair of mated Williamson's Sapsuckers excavating a nest and tending to their young.
West Desert Male Horned Lark Singing On A Snow-topped Fence Post
I photographed this adult male Horned Lark singing on a snow-topped fence post three days ago after a spring snow fell overnight in the West Desert.
Virginia Rails – Marsh Birds
Today I wanted to focus on Virginia Rails because I don't find them out in the open very often, they are such secretive marsh birds.
Smoke Phase Wild Turkey Hen Photos
Someone at sometime had tossed a soda can into the junipers and the Wild Turkey hen walked right in front of it during the few seconds she was out in the open.
Smoke Phase Wild Turkey Hen Plus A Displaying Tom
If I hadn't have been paying attention yesterday I might have missed out on spotting a flock of turkeys in some junipers and photographing a smoke phase Wild Turkey hen.
Green Heron In A Maple Swamp At Saw Grass Lake Park
This Green Heron was photographed not long after I first started focusing on and photographing birds while I still lived in Florida.
Swainson’s Hawk Chicks, Sub-adult And Adults
These are the life stages of the Swainson's Hawks I see, observe and photograph here in Utah, Idaho and Montana.
Adult Killdeer Portrait Plus A View Of Bear River MBR In March
I had my best opportunities to take close up photos of Killdeer that I have ever had and I took full advantage of each chance I had with them.
Long-billed Curlews Have Returned For Their Breeding Season
Two days ago I heard and saw my first of the season Long-billed Curlews while looking for birds to photograph in northern Utah and I could barely contain my excitement.
Red-tailed Hawk Nesting Season Has Begun!
The female Red-tailed Hawk blended into the lichen covered cliff face so well that even with my sharp eyesight I didn't see her until the male landed next to her.
Adult White-faced Ibis In Breeding Plumage
When White-faced Ibis are in breeding plumage it is easy to see how they got their common name, in nonbreeding plumage, not so much.
It’s Nesting Season For Marsh Wrens In Utah
By using a vehicle as a mobile blind I was able to photograph the wrens as they sang, searched for nesting materials, defended their breeding territories and built their nests from a distance.
I Spotted My First Of Season Western Kingbirds Four Days Ago
While I was up in Box Elder County, Utah four days ago I spotted my first of season Western Kingbirds chasing each other around in flight near a ranch.
Adult Male Short-eared Owl Flying In Front Of A Stormy Sky
This isn't the kind of Short-eared Owl image you'll see in a bird guide but when you are looking for these owls in the field sometimes a view like this is all you will get.
Photographing Birds During Social Distancing Plus Earthquake Aftershocks
In the event that our governor does force us into a total lock down I have enough images that I haven't shared here on my blog that I could post everyday for a year and still not run out of photos.