Antigone canadensis – Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

My First Of Year Sandhill Crane

By Mia McPherson|February 25th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, crane, cranes, first of year, flight, flying, long distance, marsh, mountains, Oquirrh Mountains, Sandhill Crane, small in frame, wetlands, winter|

While I was at Farmington Bay WMA two days ago, I heard and saw my first Sandhill Crane of the year. The calling crane was in flight, way off in the distance.

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Communing With Sandhill Cranes

By Mia McPherson|March 13th, 2023|Categories: Bicknell Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, buttes, clouds, crane, cranes, dancing, dawn, farmlands, fields, migration, morning, pair, pastel, red rocks, road, rocks, Sandhill Crane, shrubs, sky, spring migration, sunrise, winter|

I've been thinking a lot about Sandhill Cranes recently so I am going back in time to nine years ago today when I photographed them in Wayne County, Utah.

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Migrating Sandhill Cranes On The Wing

By Mia McPherson|February 25th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, calling, crane, cranes, flight, flying, late, marsh, mates, mountains, pair, Sandhill Crane, snowy, wetlands, winter|

I heard through the grapevine that Sandhill Cranes have returned to Farmington Bay WMA. Since the cranes are there they might be at other Utah locations too.

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Sandhill Crane Portraits

By Mia McPherson|August 24th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Morgan County, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, canyon, close up, crane, cranes, female, grass, grasses, male, mountains, pasture, portrait, Sandhill Crane, summer|

While up in the mountains yesterday morning I was thrilled to take a series of female and male Sandhill Crane portraits as they fed in a pasture next to the road.

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Wasatch Mountain Range Sandhill Crane Images

By Mia McPherson|August 1st, 2022|Categories: Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, alert, Antigone canadensis, canyon, crane, cranes, creek, food, foraging, mountains, mud, poking, riparian habitat, Sandhill Crane, sedges, stained, summer, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|

Yesterday morning I spent ten minutes taking Sandhill Crane images high in the Wasatch Mountain Range after finding a pair of cranes next to an alpine creek.

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Solitary Sandhill Crane Foraging In A Pasture

By Mia McPherson|July 14th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, canyon, crane, cranes, eating, foraging, grass, grasses, lone, mountains, pasture, Sandhill Crane, solitary, stained, summer|

I took this adult Sandhill Crane photo earlier this week as the crane foraged for food in a grassy horse pasture high up in the Wasatch Mountains.

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February Tundra Swan Photos Plus Some Very Early Sandhill Cranes

By Mia McPherson|February 11th, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Sandhill Cranes, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: adult, alert, Antigone canadensis, crane, cranes, Cygnus columbianus, early, ice, marsh, resting, road, Sandhill Crane, snow, snow covered, stink-eye, swan, swans, Tundra Swan, walking, wary, waterfowl, wetlands, winter|

Late last month I mentioned that I hadn't yet gotten the Tundra Swan photos that I wanted to take. Yesterday at Bear River MBR I was delighted to remedy that situation.

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Was the Killing Of Bob The Sandhill Crane Really Necessary?

By Mia McPherson|September 5th, 2021|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Beaverhead County, Birds, Box Elder County, Centennial Valley, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Montana, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, behavior, breeding display, clouds, courtship behavior, courtship display, crane, cranes, displaying, field, flight, flying, killed, killing, marsh, mated pair, mountains, pair, Sandhill Crane, spring, storrm, summer, Utah DWR, wetlands|

One of the other things that made me upset with Bob the Sandhill Crane being killed is that this could have been prevented.

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Coyote Stalking Adult Sandhill Cranes

By Mia McPherson|May 12th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Coyotes, Sandhill Cranes, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, Canis latrans, canyon, Coyote, coyotes, crane, cranes, flight, flying, grasses, lifted off, mountains, sagebrush, Sandhill Cranes, stalking, took flight, walking, willows|

Yesterday morning while up in the Wasatch Mountains I heard Sandhill Cranes calling repeatedly and when I spotted them I also found a Coyote near the cranes.

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An Assortment Of Spring Birds From Bear River MBR

By Mia McPherson|April 23rd, 2021|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Clark's Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants, Eared Grebes, Forster's Terns, Gadwalls, Great Blue Herons, Long-billed Curlews, Red-winged Blackbirds, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Western Grebes, White-faced Ibises, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: adult, Aechmophorus clarkii, Aechmophorus occidentalis, Agelaius phoeniceus, Antigone canadensis, Ardea herodias, Bear River, birds, breeding plumage, Clark's Grebe, Definitive Alternate Plumage, displaying, Double-crested Cormorant, Eared Grebe, flight, flying, Forster's Tern, Gadwall, Great Blue Heron, horn, Long-billed Curlew, Mareca strepera, marsh, Mergus serrator, Nannopterum auritus, Numenius americanus, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, Plegadis chihi, Podiceps nigricollis, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-winged Blackbird, river, Sandhill Crane, spring, Sterna forsteri, Weed Ceremony, Western Grebe, wetlands, white pelican, White-faced Ibis, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, Yellow-headed Blackbird|

Today I wanted to share an assortment of spring birds all photographed at Bear River MBR yesterday on a bright and beautiful morning.

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Sandhill Cranes On Spring Migration

By Mia McPherson|March 18th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Box Elder County, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, crane, cranes, field, Greater, gruiformes, Lesser, Sandhill Crane, side lit, sidelit, spring, spring migration|

I spent a few minutes photographing Sandhill Cranes twice yesterday, once not long after sunrise and then later in the morning.

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Ten Sandhill Cranes At Bear River MBR

By Mia McPherson|March 2nd, 2021|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, barren, breeding behavior, crane, cranes, dance, dancing, displaying, field, foraging, leap, leaping, marsh, mating behavior, migration, sandhill, Sandhill Crane, Sandhill Cranes, sandhills, spring migration|

It was the highlight of my morning to find, observe, listen to, and photograph ten Sandhill Cranes at Bear River MBR yesterday.

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Waiting For My First Of Year Sandhill Crane

By Mia McPherson|February 6th, 2021|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, crane, cranes, dawn, flats, morning, mud flats, sandhill, Sandhill Crane, sandhills, walking|

In 2020 I had my first of year Sandhill Crane sighting on February 23rd. This morning I can barely wait to see and hear Sandhill Cranes again.

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My First Of Year Sandhill Crane Sightings

By Mia McPherson|February 26th, 2020|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Sandhill Cranes|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, blue flag iris, calls, crane, cranes, meadow, Sandhill Crane, sighting, spring, valley, wet meadow, wildflowers|

I was delighted to hear the Sandhill Cranes calling yesterday. Their bugling calls touch me and remind me that I am every bit a part of nature as the cranes are.

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My First Of Year Sandhill Cranes!

By Mia McPherson|March 12th, 2019|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: adults, Antigone canadensis, crane, cranes, first of year, foraging, Great Salt Lake, mud flats, Sandhill Crane, water, winter|

I was very excited to spot my first of year Sandhill Cranes yesterday near the causeway to Antelope Island where a pair of the cranes were foraging on the flats of the Great Salt Lake.

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Early Franklin’s Gull at Bear River MBR on March 6, 2018

By Mia McPherson|March 6th, 2019|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Beaverhead County, Birds, Box Elder County, Centennial Valley, Davis County, Franklin's Gulls, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Utah|Tags: Antigone canadensis, breeding plumage, early migrant, Franklin's Gull, gull, gulls, Larus delawarensis, Leucophaeus pipixcan, marsh, molting, Ring-billed Gulls, Sandhill Crane|

While I had the Sandhill Crane and the Ring-billed Gulls in my view finder I heard a call and it only took a second for my brain to figure out that I was hearing a Franklin's Gull which surprised me because it was at the refuge much earlier than I have ever seen one there before.

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Adult Sandhill Crane At The Edge Of A Summer Storm In Montana

By Mia McPherson|February 4th, 2019|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Sandhill Cranes|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, clouds, crane, cranes, foraging, grassland, light, sandhill, Sandhill Crane, sandhills, shadows, spring, storm, valley|

I was drawn to this photo because of the light on the Sandhill Crane and the grasses it was foraging in plus how that contrasts with the dark shadows on the mountains behind the bird.

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Sandhill Cranes In Flight During Spring Migration

By Mia McPherson|March 12th, 2018|Categories: Bicknell Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, calls, clouds, crane, cranes, farmlands, flight, gruiformes, mates, pair, Sandhill Crane, sky, spring migration, winter|

The last couple of times I have gone to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and further north of there I have been so happy to hear and see, even if from a long distance, the return of our Sandhill Cranes.

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American Avocets, American White Pelicans and Sandhill Cranes Have Returned

By Mia McPherson|February 11th, 2018|Categories: American Avocets, American White Pelicans, Birds, Sandhill Cranes|Tags: American Avocet, American White Pelican, Antigone canadensis, avocet, avocets, crane, cranes, early migrants, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, pelican, pelicans, Recurvirostra americana, Sandhill Crane, sandhills, shorebirds, spring migrants|

I'm excited that the American Avocets, American White Pelicans and Sandhill Cranes have returned to northern Utah because I look forward to seeing and photographing them again.

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Sandhill Cranes Plus Views of Flooded Marshes at Bear River MBR

By Mia McPherson|March 16th, 2017|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: Antigone canadensis, crane, cranes, Cygnus columbianus, female, flooding, male, marsh, marshes, mates, Sandhill Crane, sandhills, Tundra Swan, water level|

I saw and photographed a mated pair of Sandhill Cranes yesterday morning in the marsh from the auto tour loop and watched them search for food.

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I Adore Sandhill Cranes

By Mia McPherson|March 11th, 2017|Categories: Bicknell Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: adults, Aldo Leopold, Antigone canadensis, bugling, calling, clouds, crane, cranes, farmlands, feeding grounds, flight, flying, landing, Sandhill Crane, sandhills, sky, winter|

Even though I can't see them with my eyes as I write this I can imagine Sandhill Cranes waiting for the first rays of the sun to reach the marshes where they spent the night.

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American White Pelicans, Sandhill Cranes, Swainson’s Hawks – Spring Migrants On The Wing

By Mia McPherson|February 19th, 2017|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Bicknell Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, Birds, Box Elder County, Sandhill Cranes, Swainson's Hawks, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: American White Pelican, Antigone canadensis, birds of prey, Buteo swainsoni, calls, crane, cranes, displaying, flight, flying, hawks, migrants, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, pelican, pelicans, raptors, Sandhill Crane, spring migrants, Swainson's Hawk|

We still have our winter birds and the spring migrants have begun their journey north so my bird photography is likely to pick up and get exciting soon if the clouds will give me a break.

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Dreaming of Greater Sage-Grouse, Sandhill Cranes and White-tailed Prairie Dogs

By Mia McPherson|February 11th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Greater Sage-Grouse, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County, White-tailed Prairie Dogs|Tags: alert, Antigone canadensis, Centrocercus urophasianus, courtship, crane, cranes, Cynomys leucurus, dreaming, eating, flight, Greater Sage-Grouse, grouse, high sagebrush steppe, lek, mountains, prairie dog, prairie dogs, sage-grouse, Sandhill Crane, snow covered, spring, upland terrestrial birds, White-tailed Prairie Dog|

I'm dreaming of seeing Greater Sage-Grouse, Sandhill Cranes and White-tailed Prairie Dogs as spring warms up the sagebrush steppe.

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New Genus for Sandhill Cranes

By Mia McPherson|July 9th, 2016|Categories: Beaverhead County, Bicknell Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: adult, American Ornithologists’ Union, Antigone canadensis, AOU, crane, cranes, farmlands, flight, Genus, male, mated pair, new genus, pair, Sandhill Crane, sandhills, sky, species, wet meadow|

Another change that has officially occurred was that Sandhill Cranes were moved from the genus Grus to Antigone.

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Pair of Sandhill Cranes Calling in Flight

By Mia McPherson|March 7th, 2016|Categories: Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, calling, clouds, crane, cranes, farmlands, female, flight, flying, low light, male, pair, rattling call, Sandhill Crane, sandhills, sky, winter|

I was photographing a pair of cranes foraging on the ground when a pair of Sandhill Cranes calling in flight flew over and I took a series of images of them.

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Pair of Sandhill Cranes in Wayne County

By Mia McPherson|March 4th, 2016|Categories: Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: Antigone canadensis, crane, cranes, farmlands, female, field, male, mates, pair, Sandhill Crane, sandhills, spring|

My life is great whenever I can photograph a pair of Sandhill Cranes wherever I find them and yesterday I had these beauties in my viewfinder.

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Sandhill Crane And Its Nearly Full-sized Colt

By Mia McPherson|August 9th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, colt, crane, cranes, field, full-sized, immature, juvenile, marsh, Sandhill Crane, sandhills, summer, wetlands, young|

The Sandhill Crane colts at Farmington Bay are as tall as their parents and look just like them except for the markings on their head and the color of their bills and eyes.

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An Assortment of Birds from Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge This Week

By Mia McPherson|July 26th, 2015|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Mourning Doves, Northern Pintails, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: adult, American White Pelican, Anas acuta, Antigone canadensis, barbed wire, crane, cranes, dove, doves, duck, ducks, eclipse plumage, field, flight, flying, immature, Mourning Dove, Northern Pintail, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, pelican, pelicans, perched, pintail, pintails, Sandhill Crane, sky, sunrise, water, Zenaida macroura|

Yesterday I posted a juvenile Wilson's Phalarope and today I am posting an assortment of others birds I photographed the same day at Bear River NWR.

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Field of Wildflowers and a Sandhill Crane in the Centennial Valley

By Mia McPherson|June 15th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Sandhill Cranes, Wildflowers|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, crane, cranes, Iris missouriensis, male, meadow, Sandhill Crane, valley, western blue flag, wet meadow, wildflowers|

I always think of Sandhill Cranes whenever my thoughts drift to the Centennial Valley of Montana where I always hear their calls, see them in the fields or in flight over the marshes.

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Dreaming of Sandhill Cranes

By Mia McPherson|January 29th, 2015|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Sandhill Cranes|Tags: adult, Antigone canadensis, autumn, calling, calls, crane, cranes, grasses, male, Sandhill Crane, valley, wetlands|

Last night I only had dreams about Sandhill Cranes but it won't be long before I will be seeing and hearing them for real. I can barely wait.

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