pond – Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

Double-crested Cormorant With A Tiger Trout

By Mia McPherson|May 6th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Double-crested Cormorants, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: Brown x Brook Trout, cormorant, cormorants, Double-crested Cormorant, fish, Nannopterum auritus, park, pond, prey, Salmo trutta × Salvelinus fontinalis, spring, swallowing, Tiger Trout, trout, urban, water|

At the end of April, while photographing an Osprey and Caspian Terns, I also found a Double-crested Cormorant swallowing a Tiger Trout close to home.

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Spring Caspian Tern Photos Plus A Bonus Osprey Image

By Mia McPherson|May 4th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Caspian Terns, Ospreys, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, aerial chase, breeding plumage, Caspian Tern, chasing, dive, eye level, flight, flying, Hydroprogne caspia, Osprey, ospreys, Pandion haliaetus, park, pond, raptors, sky, spring, tern, terns, urban|

At the end of last month, I had the pleasure of taking Caspian Tern photos as these terns were flying and fishing at my local pond.

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Milestone: Eight Years of Daily Posts Celebration

By Mia McPherson|May 2nd, 2023|Categories: Milestone|Tags: Loon Dance, Mia McPherson, milestone, pond, trees, tripod, urban, water|

Another year has gone by, and today, I am celebrating a milestone at On The Wing Photography. Eight years of posts without missing a day.

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Urban Male Yellow-headed Blackbird Portraits

By Mia McPherson|May 1st, 2023|Categories: Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: adult, blackbird, blackbirds, close up, male, pond, portrait, spring, urban, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, Yellow-headed Blackbird|

While I was at my local pond yesterday, a male Yellow-headed Blackbird flew in close enough to me that I was able to take a few portraits of him.

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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.

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Osprey Lifting Off After Missing Prey

By Mia McPherson|April 29th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Ospreys, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, dive, flight, flying, lift off, lifting off, Osprey, ospreys, Pandion haliaetus, park, pond, raptors, spring, take off, taking off, unsuccessful, urban, water|

I had great fun photographing this Osprey lifting off from an unsuccessful dive for prey two days ago. It was definitely a challenge and I will explain why.

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Drake Ruddy Duck And His Sky Blue Bill

By Mia McPherson|April 28th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Ruddy Ducks, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: blue bill, bluebill, breeding plumage, Bubbling Display, close up, diving ducks, drake, duck, ducks, male, Oxyura jamaicensis, park, pond, portrait, Ruddy Duck, spring, stiff, swimming, tail, up close, urban, water, waterfowl|

Yesterday morning, I had a real treat photographing a drake Ruddy Duck close to home. He was in his most dapper breeding plumage, including his sky blue bill.

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Common Loon – Seeing Red

By Mia McPherson|April 25th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Common Loons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, breeding plumage, Common Loon, eyes, Gavia immer, loon, loons, park, pond, red, reflections, spring, urban, waterbirds|

This morning I'm sharing a Common Loon photo that I took two days ago. I enjoy how the red eyes of the loon were echoed in the reflections on the water.

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One Ticked Off Looking American White Pelican

By Mia McPherson|April 24th, 2023|Categories: American White Pelicans, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American White Pelican, breeding plumage, close up, park, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, pelican, pelicans, pond, spring, ticked off, urban, water|

When I photographed this ticked off looking American White Pelican yesterday I laughed out loud. Why? Because I was kind of feeling ticked off myself.

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Migrating Common Loon Photos

By Mia McPherson|April 22nd, 2023|Categories: Birds, Common Loons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, breeding plumage, Common Loon, cute, drinking, droplets, eye, flapping, foot, Gavia immer, head tilt, loon, loons, park, pond, raised, red, Salt Lake County, sneaking, splashing, spring, stretching, swimming, urban, Utah, water, waterbirds, wing lift, wings|

I went through more of the Common Loon photos that I have taken since the beginning of this month. I wanted to share more images of these beautiful birds.

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Fishing Line Is A Dangerous Nesting Material

By Mia McPherson|April 19th, 2023|Categories: American Robins, Birds, Fishing Line Dangers, Nesting Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Robin, dangerous, fishing line, fishing weight, grass, grasses, nesting materials, nesting season, park, pond, robin, robins, spring, Turdus migratorius, urban|

All across the country it is nesting season for many North American birds. For some nesting birds it is also a very dangerous time because of fishing line.

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Dark And Moody Common Loon Photos

By Mia McPherson|April 18th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Common Loons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, breeding plumage, Common Loon, Gavia immer, loon, loons, low light, magic, migration, mystery, natural, park, pond, shadowed, shadows, spotlight, spring, water, waterbirds|

The dark and moody nature of the Common Loon has made this bird species a popular subject of mythology and folklore.

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Spring American White Pelican Photos

By Mia McPherson|April 16th, 2023|Categories: American White Pelicans, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American White Pelican, breeding plumage, park, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, pelican, pelicans, pond, Salt Lake County, spring, urban, Utah, water|

This collection of American White Pelican photos were taken starting the 6th of April. Some of the images show the snow from a snowstorm earlier this month.

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Crazy About Common Loons

By Mia McPherson|April 15th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Common Loons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, breeding plumage, calling, chased, close up, Common Loon, defensive posture, dripping, fighting, fishing lure, Gavia immer, loon, loons, passing, pond, portrait, rushing, Salt Lake County, spring, spring migration, urban, Utah, Vulture Posture, water, waterbirds|

Yesterday morning I didn't go out looking for Common Loons. But I found two and they were fighting, calling, preening and getting up close and personal with me.

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Landing Double-crested Cormorant Reflections

By Mia McPherson|April 14th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Double-crested Cormorants, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, colorful, cormorant, cormorants, Double-crested Cormorant, funky, landing, Nannopterum auritus, park, pond, reflections, Salt Lake County, sliding, spring, urban, Utah, water|

Last Sunday, when April and I were photographing birds together, I took images of this adult Double-crested Cormorant landing on funky reflections.

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More Urban Common Loon Photos

By Mia McPherson|April 12th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Common Loons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, alert, belly, bill, breeding plumage, Common Loon, flapping, foot, Gavia immer, head, loon, loons, neck, open, park, pond, preening, Salt Lake County, sleepy, stretching, tipped, urban, Utah, water, waterbirds, wings|

I had two mornings to photograph a Common Loon at a local pond. These photos are from the second morning and they show more action from the striking loon.

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Mix Of Urban Birds Close To Home

By Mia McPherson|April 10th, 2023|Categories: American Robins, Birds, Double-crested Cormorants, Red-winged Blackbirds, Redheads, Salt Lake County, Savannah Sparrows, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Utah|Tags: accipiter, Accipiter striatus, Accipiters, adult, Agelaius phoeniceus, American Robin, Aythya americana, basketball backstop, blackbird, blackbirds, branches, cattail, close up, cormorant, cormorants, curb, Double-crested Cormorant, drake, duck, ducks, edge, habitat, hawks, immature, landing, male, Nannopterum auritus, neighborhood, park, Passerculus sandwichensis, perched, pond, portrait, raptors, Red-winged Blackbird, Redhead, redheads, robin, robins, Savannah Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, sky, small in frame, snow, sparrow, sparrows, splash, splashy, spring, stinkeye, thrush, thrushes, tree, Turdus migratorius, urban, water, waterbirds, waterfowl, young|

This mix of urban birds were taken over a two day period close to home. Birds, no matter where they are, bring me joy, happiness, and even laughter.

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Common Loon In Salt Lake County

By Mia McPherson|April 8th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Common Loons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, breeding plumage, Common Loon, Gavia immer, loon, loons, park, pond, Salt Lake County, spring, urban, Utah, water, waterbirds|

Two days ago I was absolutely, fantastically delighted to spend time photographing a strikingly handsome Common Loon that is almost in breeding plumage.

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Urban Female Northern Flicker

By Mia McPherson|April 7th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Northern Flickers, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, Colaptes auratus, female, flicker, flickers, Northern Flicker, park, pond, spring, tree trunk, trunk, urban, woodpecker, woodpeckers|

Yesterday the sun was shining and I went for a walk at my local pond. Among the birds that I photographed I enjoyed this pretty female Northern Flicker.

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American Wigeon On The Last Day Of Winter

By Mia McPherson|March 23rd, 2023|Categories: American Wigeons, Birds, Salt Lake Valley, Utah|Tags: adult, American Wigeon, dabbling ducks, drake, duck, ducks, male, Mareca americana, morning light, pareidolia, park, pond, urban, water, waterfowl, wigeon, wigeons, winter|

I photographed an American Wigeon drake on the last day of winter at my local pond. The light was nice and lovely but my view of the wigeon was even nicer.

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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.

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Late Winter Female Brewer’s Blackbird

By Mia McPherson|March 21st, 2023|Categories: Birds, Brewer's Blackbirds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, blackbird, blackbirds, Brewer's Blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus, female, frost, frosted, frosty, grass, grasses, park, pond, standing, urban, winter|

When I photographed this Female Brewer's Blackbird a few days ago she was the focus of attention for four nearby males that were displaying on the frosty grass.

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American Wigeon Portraits – I See Spats

By Mia McPherson|March 18th, 2023|Categories: American Wigeons, Birds, Humor, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Wigeon, close up, dabbling ducks, drake, duck, ducks, female, hen, male, Mareca americana, park, pond, portrait, spat, spats, urban, wigeon, wigeons, winter|

This morning, I am sharing two American Wigeon portraits. I felt fortunate to take them recently at one of my local urban ponds on a frosty, cold morning.

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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.

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Urban Drake American Wigeon In Snow

By Mia McPherson|March 10th, 2023|Categories: American Wigeons, Birds, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, American Wigeon, bill, breeding plumage, dabbling ducks, drake, duck, ducks, male, Mareca americana, park, pond, resting, snow, urban, wigeon, wigeons, winter|

The sun came out for a bit yesterday so I went down to my local urban ponds. I was tickled to find and photograph a drake American Wigeon resting in the snow.

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Golden Hour: Urban Great Blue Heron

By Mia McPherson|February 26th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Great Blue Herons, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: Ardea herodias, bank, early morning light, golden light, Great Blue Heron, heron, herons, park, pond, shadow, shore, urban, wading birds, water, winter|

The last time I photographed at a local park I found a Great Blue Heron resting in the water at the edge of a pond in the golden light found just after dawn.

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Calling Mallard Drake In The City

By Mia McPherson|February 9th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Mallards, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: Anas platyrhynchos, bill, calling, city, dabbling ducks, drake, duck, ducks, male, Mallard, mallards, open, pond, urban, water, waterfowl, winter|

I enjoy photographing even the most abundant ducks at my local city ponds. I simply couldn't resist taking images of this calling Mallard drake two days ago.

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Urban Ring-necked Duck Hen

By Mia McPherson|February 5th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Ring-necked Ducks, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: Aythya collaris, diving ducks, duck, ducks, female, hen, pond, Ring-necked Duck, urban, water, waterfowl, winter|

Just a simple urban Ring-necked Duck hen photo this morning. I photographed this female diving duck at my local pond exactly five years ago today.

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Fluffy Butt Pied-billed Grebe

By Mia McPherson|January 30th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Pied-billed Grebes, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: adult, butt, fluffy, grebe, grebes, Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps, pond, preening, urban, water, winter|

What bird is cuter than a fluffy butt Pied-billed Grebe? There are probably quite a few birds as cute but this one taken four years ago tickled my fancy today.

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California Gull Playing With A Stick

By Mia McPherson|January 25th, 2023|Categories: Birds, California Gulls, Salt Lake County, Utah|Tags: behavior, California Gull, flight, flying, gull, gulls, Larus californicus, mid air, play, playing, pond, shoreline, snagging, stick, urban, water, winter, winter plumage|

This morning I'm sharing two photos of a California Gull playing with a stick at one of my local ponds that I took during the winter in January of 2021.

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