Seattle Times Reader’s Lens

Here’s a gallery of my bird photographs that the Seattle Times has published in the Reader’s Lens section of the Pacific NW Magazine. It’s always a thrill to have a photograph published and I’m thankful to the Seattle Times for publishing these photos!

These photos are available as wall art on metal or canvas. Please contact me for more details if you are interested in hanging one of these photos on a wall in your home or business.

Here’s a little backstory on each photograph.

Cedar Waxwing: “A Bird and its Berries“

I found this beautiful Cedar Waxwing in a berry bush on a January morning at Ballinger Park in Mountlake Terrace, WA. I love the contrast between the yellow bird and the red berries. These birds also fun with their interesting black mask like an old-time bank robber. (Published on January 31, 2018)

A Cedar Waxwing posing on a branch in a bush full of red berries. Photograph by Michael McAuliffe.
A Cedar Waxwing posing on a branch in a bush full of red berries. Photograph by Michael McAuliffe.

Bald Eagle: “This bald eagle held his place, but not his peace, during an intrusive tern of events“

I have photographed Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons on this pier on the Edmonds, WA, waterfront quite a few times. However, this is one of my favorite shots. I especially liked how this Bald Eagle was screeching at several Caspian Terns that were dive bombing it. (Published on September 9, 2020)

A screeching Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) perched on a pier early in the morning on the Puget Sound waterfront in Edmonds, Washington. Photograph by Michael McAuliffe.
A screeching Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) perched on a pier early in the morning on the Puget Sound waterfront in Edmonds, Washington. Photograph by Michael McAuliffe.

Snowy Owl: “A majestic snowy owl perches high enough on Queen Anne Hill to look down on its admirers“

Owls are probably my favorite birds to photograph. Especially Snowy Owls which are uncommon in most of the United States, including the Seattle, WA, area where I live. This Snowy owl became a local celebrity in the winter of 2020/2021 when it spent several months on the rooftops of homes on Queen Anne Hill near downtown Seattle. As soon as I heard about the owl I had to find it and get some photos! (Published January 20, 2021)

A close-up photo of a Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) resting on a rooftop in Seattle, Washington. Photograph by Michael McAuliffe.
A close-up photo of a Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) resting on a rooftop in Seattle, Washington. Photograph by Michael McAuliffe.

Mountain Bluebird: “WA trail reveals his bluebird of happiness“

Bluebirds aren’t common in Western Washington and until recently I had not photographed them. Then I found out that there’s a great spot to find these birds in central Washington where I have now photographed them the last two summers.

This “bluebird trail” is in Ellensburg, WA, where they they have installed over 100 Bluebird nesting boxes on Umptanum Road. While driving this mostly gravel road there can be many opportunities to see and photograph Western and Mountain Bluebirds. The Mountain Bluebird in my photo posed with a grasshopper for several minutes before taking the bug to some hungry young nearby bluebirds in a nesting box. (Published November 12, 2025)

A Mountain Bluebird with a grasshopper perched on a stump in Ellensburg, Washington. Photograph by Michael McAuliffe.
A Mountain Bluebird with a grasshopper perched on a stump in Ellensburg, Washington. Photograph by Michael McAuliffe.
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