coots – Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

American Coot And Concentric Ripples In Water

By Mia McPherson|October 8th, 2024|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, autumn, coot, coots, fall, Fulica americana, park, pond, reflections, ripples, urban, water|

This morning, I'm sharing an American Coot photo I took last year in Utah. What I like about this photo is the coot and the concentric ripples in the water.

2

Drake Northern Shoveler And American Coot

By Mia McPherson|March 28th, 2024|Categories: American Coots, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Northern Shovelers, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, coot, coots, dabbling ducks, drake, duck, ducks, Fulica americana, male, marsh, Northern Shoveler, shoveler, shovelers, Spatula clypeata, swimming, water, wetlands, winter|

This drake Northern Shoveler swam past me on my last trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I couldn't resist taking photos of him. Why would I want to?

4

Urban American Coot Close Up Photos

By Mia McPherson|February 11th, 2024|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, behavior, close up, coot, coots, eating, feeding, feet, fight, fighting, fish, foot, frost, Fulica americana, grass, grasses, marsh, mating, park, pond, prey, reflections, ruckus, spring, urban, water, winter|

Because it was a bright, sunny day yesterday morning, I went down to my local ponds. I photographed an American Coot munching on frosty grass near one of them.

4

I’m Still Looking For This Leucistic American Coot

By Mia McPherson|January 26th, 2024|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Rarities, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, coot, coots, Fulica americana, funky water color, leucism, leucistic, park, plumage aberration, pond, rare, reflections, spring, unique, unusual, urban, water|

I remember feeling very thrilled when I found this leucistic American Coot on January 2, 2023. I'd been hoping to find a leucistic coot for quite a long time.

4

Canada Geese In Falling Snow

By Mia McPherson|November 25th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Canada Geese, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, autumn, Branta canadensis, Canada Geese, Canada Goose, coot, coots, fall, falling, Fulica americana, geese, goose, low light, park, pond, snow, snow fall, snowfall, snowing, urban, water, waterbirds, waterfowl|

Yesterday I desperately needed a bird break so I went down to my local pond. While I was there I photographed Canada Geese and American Coots in falling snow.

5

One Cute Coot Scoot

By Mia McPherson|November 18th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, autumn, chase, chased, coot, coots, cute, fall, Fulica americana, park, pond, running, scoot, scooting, splashing, urban, water, waterbirds|

A few days ago, I was able to photograph one cute coot scooting past me at my local pond on a bright sunny Utah morning. The action tickled my funny bone.

5

American Coot Stink Eye And Diving Images

By Mia McPherson|November 9th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, autumn, coot, coots, diving, fall, Fulica americana, park, pond, Salt Lake County, stink-eye, stinkeye, urban, Utah, water, waterbirds|

Today I am sharing some recent American Coot images where the coot is giving me the stink eye and diving. The images were taken at a pond close to home.

7

Three American Coots Side By Side

By Mia McPherson|October 28th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, autumn, coot, coots, fall, Fulica americana, hatch year, hatch year bird, marsh, marsh habitat, phragmites, phrags, water, wetlands, younger|

What's better than having one coot in my viewfinder? I'd say having three American Coots side by side in my viewfinder at one time!

5

Baby American Coot Images

By Mia McPherson|August 24th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: American Coot, baby, breakfast, chicks, coot, coots, eating, Fulica americana, immature, juvenile, morning, park, pond, summer, urban, water, young|

Yesterday morning, I spent some time taking photos of baby American Coots not far from where I live. It does seem late in the summer for coot chicks.

6

Teen-aged American Coot With Swirly Reflections

By Mia McPherson|August 7th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: American Coot, clouds, coot, coots, Fulica americana, immature, pond, reflections, summer, teen-aged, urban, water, young|

Yesterday morning, I went for a walk around my local pond. One of the birds I photographed was this teen-aged American Coot with swirly reflections around it.

4

American Coots Fighting – Pond Pugilists

By Mia McPherson|April 30th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, aggressive, American Coot, battle, battling, behavior, combative, come to blows, coot, coots, fight, fighting, kicking, knock down, park, pond, ruckus, Salt Lake County, spring, urban, Utah, water, winding down, wing slapped|

While I was at my local pond three days ago, I took my best-to-date images of fighting American Coots. I had a blast and laughed a lot while I took them.

9

Leucistic American Coot Photos

By Mia McPherson|April 13th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Great-tailed Grackles, Leucistic, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, back view, coot, coots, dirt, face, foraging, Fulica americana, grackle, grackles, grass, Great-tailed Grackle, leucism, leucistic, male, morning, plumage aberration, preening, profile view, Quiscalus mexicanus, Salt Lake County, spring, staring, swimming, tail, tree trunk, urban, Utah, water|

Over the past four months I wanted closer, better photos of the leucistic American Coot that I found on January 2nd. My patience and persistence paid off.

5

World Water Day 2023

By Mia McPherson|March 22nd, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Centennial Valley, Conservation, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, Glacier County, Glacier National Park, Juab County, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Sawgrass Lake Park, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, American Coots, aspens, Box Elder County, canyon, Centennial Mountains, Centennial Valley, clouds, conifers, coots, creek, Cygnus columbianus, Fish Springs Range, flight, flock, Florida, flying, footbridge, foothills, grass, grasses, hills, ice, immature, Juab County, maple swamp, marsh, mountains, Pinellas County, pond, Promontory Mountains, rapids, reflections, river, rocks, rushing, sage, sagebrush, Sawgrass Lake Park, shadows, shrubs, sky, snow, snow-topped, spring, summer, swamp, swan, swans, trail, trees, Tundra Swan, Utah, valley, water, waterfowl, west desert, wetlands, Wigeon Pond, willows, winter, young|

Today is World Water Day. The theme for World Water Day 2023 is: Accelerate Change. Every human being on this planet is roughly 60% water.

7

One Tranquil American Coot

By Mia McPherson|March 12th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, branch, coot, coots, Fulica americana, park, pond, reflection, tranquil, twig, urban, water, winter|

Calm and tranquil, this American Coot photographed 3 days ago stood out from its typically aggressive and territorial behavior during the breeding season.

2

Two American Coot Portraits

By Mia McPherson|January 24th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, background, close, close up, coot, coots, Fulica americana, pond, portrait, snow, snowy, urban, winter|

I like these two American Coot portraits that I took at my local pond two years ago. The snowy background on one and the gray in the other set off the coots.

6

Gadwall Drake Resting In Snow

By Mia McPherson|January 4th, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Leucistic, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, coot, coots, dabbling ducks, drake, duck, ducks, foraging, Fulica americana, Gadwall, gadwalls, leucism, leucistic, male, Mareca strepera, plumage aberration, pond, resting, snow, tree, trunk, urban, water, winter|

This morning I'm sharing photos of a Gadwall drake resting in snow plus a bonus photo of the leucistic American Coot taken yesterday in afternoon light.

4

Leucistic American Coot In Salt Lake County

By Mia McPherson|January 3rd, 2023|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Leucistic, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, cloudy, coot, coots, Fulica americana, leucism, leucistic, low light, plumage aberration, pond, urban, water, winter|

After shoveling more snow I wanted to go to my local pond to see what was there. My jaw dropped when I found a foraging leucistic American Coot.

6

December Snow Storm Plus An American Coot

By Mia McPherson|December 13th, 2022|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Valley, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, autumn, coots, fall, Fulica americana, pond, rushes, Salt Lake Valley, snow, snow storm, snowflakes, snowstorm, snowy, trees, urban, water|

Yesterday, after I cleared the snow off of my Jeep for the first time, I drove down to my neighborhood pond in a December snow storm to enjoy the snow.

4

American Coot And Funky Reflection

By Mia McPherson|November 23rd, 2022|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, autumn, coot, coots, fall, Fulica americana, funky, pond, reflection, urban, water|

I spent about 45 minutes at my local pond yesterday afternoon and one of my favorite images from being there was this American Coot with a funky reflection.

5

American Coot Reflection

By Mia McPherson|November 3rd, 2022|Categories: American Coots, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, autumn, coot, coots, fall, feet, Fulica americana, marsh, reflection, reflections, vegetation, water, wetlands|

This American Coot caught my eye on my latest trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge three days ago in part because of the still water and the reflection of the bird.

7

American Coot Entering The Icy Bear River

By Mia McPherson|February 6th, 2022|Categories: American Coots, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, Bear River, coot, coots, ebter, Fulica americana, ice, ice shelf, marsh, river, splashing, water, wetlands, winter|

When I was up at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge late last week I photographed an American Coot entering the icy Bear River from the auto tour loop.

7

Misty American Coot

By Mia McPherson|January 23rd, 2022|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, coot, coots, fog, Fulica americana, mist, misty, morning, pond, steam fog, urban, water, winter|

Yesterday morning I photographed birds at my local pond in freezing temps and this American Coot in a morning mist was one of my favorite images that I took.

3

Focusing On American Coot Photos At Farmington Bay

By Mia McPherson|January 11th, 2022|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, big, checking, coot, coots, Davis County, droplets, eating, fall, Farmington Bay WMA, feeding, feet, foot, forating, frost, frosty, Fulica americana, grass, grasses, green, ice, lifted, marsh, out, rest, sip, thin, Utah, vegetation, water, wetland, winter|

Yesterday morning I spent part of my time focusing on taking American Coot photos in the marshes and wetlands of Farmington Bay WMA. I adore these goofy birds.

6

Christmas Day Birds 2021

By Mia McPherson|December 26th, 2021|Categories: American Coots, Birds, California Gulls, Common Goldeneyes, Great Blue Herons, Great-tailed Grackles, Mallards, Rough-legged Hawks|Tags: adult, American Coot, Anas platyrhynchos, Ardea herodias, breeding plumage, Bucephala clangula, Buteo lagopus, California Gull, calling, Christmas, Christmas Day, close up, Common Goldeneye, coot, coots, crawdad, crayfish, dabbling ducks, diving ducks, drake, duck, ducks, eating, female, first winter, flight, flying, foraging, Fulica americana, goldeneye, goldeneyes, grackle, grackles, grass, gray sky, Great Blue Heron, Great-tailed Grackle, gull, gulls, hawk, hawks, heron, herons, hovering, Icterids, immature, Larus californicus, low light, male, Mallard, mallards, marsh, nonbreeding plumage, open bill, pond, portrait, Quiscalus mexicanus, rails, Rough-legged Hawk, splashing, urban, wading birds, water, water droplets, wetlands, winter, young|

I did get out to find and photograph birds on Christmas Day at Farmington Bay WMA and then later in the morning I found more closer to home.

7

My Computer Is Up And Running But I am Frazzled

By Mia McPherson|December 13th, 2021|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, autumn, computer, coot, coots, diving, fall, Fulica americana, pond, urban, water|

My post yesterday was about my computer not booting which messed up my morning post. Today my post is about getting my computer to boot yet I'm still feeling frazzled.

9

Winter American Coot Portraits

By Mia McPherson|February 18th, 2021|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, close up, coot, coots, Fulica americana, pond, portrait, snow, snowy, winter|

After an extremely snowy night and morning I was able to get out yesterday afternoon and take some wintry American Coot portraits close to home.

9

Adult American Coot Bathing

By Mia McPherson|January 18th, 2021|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, bath, bathing, cold, coot, coots, Fulica americana, gruiformes, icy, pond, splashing, water, winter|

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.

3

Photographing Winter Birds

By Mia McPherson|January 15th, 2021|Categories: American Coots, Bald Eagles, Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Canvasbacks, Common Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Great-tailed Grackles, Mallards, Pied-billed Grebes, Redheads, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, Anas platyrhynchos, Aythya americana, Aythya valisineria, Bald Eagle, birds of prey, Black-crowned Night Heron, breeding plumage, Bucephala clangula, Canvasback, chase, close up, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, coot, coots, dabbling ducks, dicks, displaying, diving ducks, drake, duck, ducks, eagle, eagles, female, fight, fighting, first winter, flight, flying, food, frisky, Fulica americana, goldeneye, goldeneyes, grackle, grackles, Great-tailed Grackle, grebe, grebes, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, heron, herons, immature, male, mallards, marsh, merganser, mergansers, Mergus merganser, night heron, night herons, Nycticorax nycticorax, Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps, pond, portrait, prey, Quiscalus mexicanus, raptors, Redhead, redheads, swimming, wading birds, water, waterfowl, weather loach, winter, young|

I spent a couple of hours yesterday photographing winter birds at Farmington Bay WMA and closer to home in the morning and afternoon.

8

Which Bird Do These Feet Belong To?

By Mia McPherson|December 27th, 2020|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, close up, coot, coots, feet, Fulica americana, gruiformes, patrol, snow, snowy, walking, winter|

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?

8

Diving American Coot – Breaking My Own Rules

By Mia McPherson|December 8th, 2020|Categories: American Coots, Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: adult, American Coot, catch light, coot, coots, diving, eye contact, Fulica americana, marsh, rules, subject, water, winter|

Typically I have a personal rule about having eye contact with my subject and I also want a catch light but to get this coot photo I had to break my own bird photography rules.

8