By Mia McPherson, on May 7th, 2012% Lately every where I go I see the word “Montana”, I see it on billboards, license plates, TV commercials, written on the side of semi-tractor trailers and on the back of camping trailers. Seeing the word “Montana” so often has gotten me anxious, antsy and itching to head north soon to see more of a state that beckons to me because I have fallen in love with it. I’m posting a smattering of images from my journeys in Montana.
 Snow on the 6th of June in Cut Bank, Montana The first time I spent time in Montana other than driving through the state was in June of 2009, even though I have lived in other western states with wide open skies I realized then why Montana is called “Big Sky Country”. It delighted me to drive north from Idaho and see the wide open prairies with big fluffy clouds in the sky, to see the craggy cliffs along I-15, the lakes sparkling along the roads, mountains that still had snow up top and I am certain that I mumbled ohhhs, ahhs and “this is just so beautiful” too many times to count. That was the trip that Montana started flowing in my veins.
The morning I was to leave Montana on that first trip to head south I woke to snow coming down hard on the 6th of June. It snowed all the way south to just across the Idaho state line. I’ve been snowed on before in July but that was very high up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado but still I was a touch surprised to see snow in June.
 Juvenile Great Horned Owl - Glacier County, Montana I had a great time that first trip photographing juvenile Great Horned Owls in early morning light, they are so photogenic! I love those fluffy feathers by their rump, those big lovely eyes and the little nubbins of ear tufts. They don’t look as fierce as the adults do but one day they will also be “Tigers of the Sky”.
 Eastern Kingbird, Glacier County, Montana On and near the farm I was staying at both Western and Eastern Kingbirds can be found hawking for insects from fenceposts, old farm equipment and from barbed wire during the summer months.
 Glacier National Park, Montana I would be remiss if I didn’t post a few images from Glacier National Park which I believe is fantastic, stunning and incredibly amazing.
 Glacier National Park - The Crown Jewel of Montana It is a cliché to say that a location is “The Crown Jewel” but I believe that it suits Glacier National Park well.
 The Madison River, Madison County, Montana In Madison County there are many beautiful views of the Madison River, this view is from a bridge that crosses the river on the way to Cliff and Wade Lakes which are higher up in the Gravelly Range of the Beaverhead National Forest. The Madison River is classified as a Blue Ribbon Fishery and anglers come from all over the world to cast their flies for Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Mountain Whitefish. There are plenty of Ospreys and Bald Eagles in the area, I guess they know where the fishing is good too!
Madison County is west of Yellowstone National Park.
 Red-tailed Hawk lifting off, just above Wade Lake, Madison County, Montana My words can not adequately describe Cliff and Wade Lakes. Cliff Lake, which is higher than Wade Lake, is nestled in between steep mountains covered Aspens, Firs and Pines. Near the campground the bottom of the lake has a sandy bottom and the water can be the most delicious shade of turquoise.
Ospreys and Bald Eagles soar over the lake looking for fish below. The calls of both birds echo against the mountain walls. There are other raptors in the area including Red-tailed Hawks and during warmer months Turkey Vultures float on the thermals. It is said there is a Great Gray Owl in the area but I haven’t seen it yet. More birds include Northern Flickers, migrant warblers, Common Mergansers, White-crowned Sparrows, Great Blue Herons, Mountain Chickadees and a nemesis bird for me; Gray Jays who are also known as “Camp Robbers”, so far the only thing they have robbed from me is the opportunity to get some acceptable images of them! There are many more birds there too.
Ah, just writing about Cliff Lake makes me smell the aroma of coffee brewing plus the smokey scent of frying bacon and crisp mornings.
 Chipmunk at Cliff Lake, Montana One of the mammals I photographed at the campsite of Cliff Lake was this Chipmunk who popped up out of its burrow just before the sun set behind the mountain bathing it in brilliant light. I’m not sure exactly which species this Chipmunk is so if anyone knows, please let me know. There are Moose near Cliff and Wade Lakes also.
More great fishing can be found in Cliff and Wade Lakes, Wade Lake holds the Montana State record for a Brown Trout at 29 pounds.
 Pronghorn doe on a ridge, Madison County, Montana In between the Gravelly Range and the Madison River after leaving Cliff and Wade Lakes there are smooth slopes and ridges covered with Sagebrush where cattle graze and Pronghorns roam. This lovely doe and several others were being closely watched by a buck in rut. The Madison Mountain Range definitely creates a wonderful background for this unique and wonderful creature.
 An old homestead in Madison County, Montana When I saw this old homestead I simply had to stop and take photos of it. The rocks for the building construction were probably collected nearby, I have no idea of when it was built but I’m guessing it was a long time ago. The homestead is on a grassy plain with very little to break the wind, it must have been very challenging to live there when the winds would blow hard or in depths of Montana’s frigid winters. I wish I knew more about the people who built and lived in that homestead, what they thought about the incredible area and if children’s laughter rang out across the valley. Were they happy in a place I felt was a paradise? I’ll never know but I like to muse about it.
 Old Barn on the way to Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Montana I’ve spent a great deal of time on my journeys to Montana at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and I usually enter from the west by getting off of I-15 and heading east from Monida on a 30 mile gravel road. I’ve posted a different image of this ancient barn on another post I wrote about the refuge but I can’t seem to get enough views or images of it. Perhaps this barn represents a “Welcome” sign to me just by knowing one of my favorite photographic locations is only a few miles up the road. I think of it as “my barn” now, not in a possessive sense but more like I am saying “my friend”.
 Male Mountain Bluebird, Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana During the summer months; on the way to and within the refuge at Red Rock Lakes, Mountain Bluebirds flit about, fly up from the road, perch on fenceposts and nest in the boxes that wonderful people in the valley have provided for them. Their blues are wonderfully vibrant against a background of the gray greens of Sagebrush.
 Male Tree Swallow, Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana Another species often seen along the roads to and in Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge are Tree Swallows, in fact they often compete with Mountain Bluebirds for the nest boxes. I have a fun series of images about that kind of competition. I love seeing all the different types of swallows on the refuge because they eat the mosquitoes and other bugs that… well… bug me.
 Rainbow and clearing storm at Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana The weather at Red Rock Lakes NWR is very changeable, it pays to bring clothes for cold and warm days all summer long. It can be bright and sunny and then huge storms will rush through the Centennial Valley while the cracks of thunder and lightning reverberate off of the Centennial Mountains and small white caps form on the lakes.
I’ve heard it said that “mountains create their own weather”.
 Lake mist over the Lower Lake at Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana Large bodies of water can create their own weather too. Mornings at the refuge can be misty to very foggy near the lakes. The image above shows the morning mist rising from the Lower Lake.
 Pronghorn buck in a fog, Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana The fog can be very dense at times making it difficult to see birds or animals approaching. This Pronghorn buck along with several does and young wandered past in one of those dense fogs near the Lower Lake campground.
 Female Short-eared Owl at Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana Photographing this female Short-eared Owl at the edge of a fog was delightful, the fog behind the owl created a velvety, buttery smooth background. I have such fond “Montana” memories of the morning I photographed her.
 Calling Wilson's Snipe, Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana Along the Upper Lake’s eastern most section there are riparian habitats where many different species of warblers, ducks and shorebirds can be found along and in the streams. This Wilson’s Snipe was perched on a fencepost calling when we stopped to take some photos of it. I felt very lucky getting as many images of it as I did since in Florida about the only pictures I got were of the backside of the birds as they flew away.
 Calling juvenile Swainson's Hawk, Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana There are; of course, bright, sunny days in the Centennial Valley where the mornings start off cool but the sun soon warms everything up and my layered clothing gets shed slowly. It was a beautiful day when I photographed this juvenile Swainson’s Hawk calling to another hawk overhead. It was young enough that it approached us rather closely few times.
 Below the dam at the Lower Lake at Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana Mornings can be golden at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and evenings just as glorious.
Montana is once again beckoning to me. I can hear it calling.
Mia
By Mia McPherson, on March 17th, 2012% Outside my window the winds are howling this morning and there is a thick layer of gray clouds hanging low in the sky. It isn’t a good day to be out in the field so I have been going through my image archives and pulled out two images of a Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) doe from last spring to post. The green grasses and yellow blossomed Gray’s Biscuitroot (Lomatium grayi) remind me that this weather will soon be gone and spring growth will appear.
 Pronghorn doe in Spring - Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 400, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR at 330mm, natural light This Pronghorn doe was one of several does feeding on a slope that had new grass poking out of the ground and dotted with Gray’s Bicuitroot in bloom on Antelope Island State Park. Gray’s Biscuitroot are among some of the earliest blooming plants on the island and the Pronghorns seem partial to it. I guess after a winter of foraging on dried vegetation the fresh leaves must taste good. Sort of like me and the difference between store-bought tomatoes in winter and the garden grown, sun-ripened ones that I enjoy so much in the summer.
 Pronghorn doe nibbling on Gray's Biscuitroot - Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 400, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light As I recall the day I photographed this doe there were clouds overhead which is why I used some positive exposure compensation, had it been sunny I would not have needed that at all.
I enjoy looking through my archives on days like today, they bring back so many great memories of time spent in the field with the birds and animals, camping trips out in the wilderness and watching the sunrise with a steaming mug of coffee in my hands. Windswept grassy plains, marshy valleys, streams lined with willows, sandy deserts, red rock walls in the canyons, Pinyon Pines in the high country and huge open skies. The smell of bacon cooking in the crisp air. The sounds of the night. Sitting on a sun warmed rock and contemplating the glorious wonders of the natural world. Sunlight dancing on a crystal clear mountain lake or the musical sound of water bubbling over rocks in a stream bed.
Soon. Very soon.
Mia
More Pronghorn images
By Mia McPherson, on March 13th, 2012% Today I thought I would post a few images taken this past week from Antelope Island State Park and the west desert in Tooele County. Feathers & Fur.
 Coyote in morning light on Antelope Island- Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or called in Right before I photographed this Coyote (Canis latrans) it had eaten four Voles from the base on a wild Sunflower. I couldn’t get any decent images of it then because it was well hidden behind the Sunflower stalks but when it wandered towards the other Coyote I could see in the distance it stopped and looked towards me where I had a relatively unobstructed view.
 Male Horned Lark in Tooele County - Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light Yesterday I was in the west desert in Tooele County with high hopes of seeing and photographing Golden Eagles, Prairie Falcons, Ferruginous and Red-tailed Hawks. It wasn’t to be though, I think the strong south winds were keeping them hunkered down. The one Red-tailed Hawk I photographed was just a bit too far away to create decent images where the details were plainly evident. I still didn’t go away empty handed because this male Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) posed for me briefly.
 Pronghorn Doe on a hilltop on Antelope Island - Nikon D200, f10, 1/1000, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x Tc at 400mm, natural light I love Pronghorns (Antilocapra americana), they are beautiful, graceful and I photograph them at every opportunity. I sure thought this doe looked stunning against the snow covered mountains in the background while looking at me from a hilltop.
 Loggerhead Shrike calling, Antelope Island - Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light I have been seeing more Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus) calling from the tops of bushes and trees lately and have also been seeing them pair up. This one was calling in the early morning light and quite loudly too! They are such handsome birds.
 Frosty Bison on Antelope Island - Nikon D200, handheld, f11, 1/250, ISO 400, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 90mm, natural light I had hoped to photograph Bison this winter where the where the foreground and background was all snow covered in beautiful, dramatic light. With the “Winter that Wasn’t” that didn’t happen. I did create some images though were the Bison had some frost on them. Maybe we will get one final snow before spring pushes Old Man Winter out the door. You just never know!
Mia
By Mia McPherson, on February 29th, 2012% I am one of those people who love deserts and the West Desert of Utah is once again beckoning to me. The weather here in Utah is very changeable right now, it can feel like spring one day and the next it still feels like winter but it won’t be long before the weather levels out and the west desert will begin to green up.
 Stansbury Mountain Range Pano, Utah This photo is a composite of three images I stitched together in Adobe Photoshop so that I could show a panoramic view of the Stansbury Mountain Range not too far from Salt Lake City and for me this area marks the beginning of the West Desert of Utah. The mountain range is 28 miles in length and the north end border starts at the southwest area of the Great Salt Lake. The foothills have grassy plains and Sagebrush while further up into the canyons Junipers and Pinyon Pines cover the slopes while in the canyons Cottonwoods grow along the streams that are fed by rains and spring melt. The air always feels crisper when inside the canyons and I love that.
 Horned Lark perched on a rock - Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light Horned Larks seem to enjoy the foothills where they can be seen in large numbers at times perched on rocks in the early morning light or scurrying on the ground foraging for grass seeds. It is very quiet out in the west desert so hearing the soft calls of Horned Larks is very easy to do. I’ve also seen and/or photographed Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Ferruginous Hawks, Western Meadowlarks, Lark Sparrows and Golden Eagles while on the foothills along with other birds.
 Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk soaring on canyon thermals - Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited After leaving the foothills and moving up into the canyons raptors can easily soar in the thermals along the canyon walls. The day I photographed the Red-tailed Hawk above this juvenile and its siblings were riding the thermals and aerial bombing each other. I’ve also seen Prairie Falcons in the canyons and at times I have seen them flying with the Red-tailed Hawks. I’ve seen wild Turkeys, Pinyon and Western Scrub-Jays, Northern and Loggerhead Shrikes, hummingbirds and various perching birds such as Juncos and Black-headed Grosbeaks in this area. I’m certain there are far more species than I have been able to observe there, I just need to spend more time exploring the area.
 Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk perched on a branch in a canyon - Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited Using a vehicle as a mobile blind is almost always necessary because the birds found in these locations are not used to people and are far less skittish while photographing from inside a vehicle. It is so quiet in the canyons that the water running below in the streams is music to my ears. You can hear the slightest sounds and smell the pines and junipers along the way.
 Turkey Vulture in flight over the Stansbury Mountain Range - Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1500, ISO 400, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 335mm, natural light, not baited During the warmer months of the year Turkey Vultures can also be seen soaring on the thermals or out over the foothills in search of carrion. They aren’t very pretty but they are efficient at locating the carrion and cleaning it all up.
 Way out in the West Desert of Utah - Nikon D200, handheld, f8, 1/400, ISO 250, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 32mm, natural light Further out to the west there are vast flat areas of the desert and more hills and Mountain Ranges. One of my favorite places to camp is at Simpson Springs which is a stop along the Pony Express Historic Trail and from there I love to visit Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge which is an oasis in the middle of the desert. This image was taken on the road to Fish Springs NWR.
 Rocky hillside in the West Desert of Utah - Nikon D200, handheld, f8, 1/640, ISO 250, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 46mm, natural light The scenery in the west desert is varied, you can see the flats which were at one time the bottom of old Lake Bonneville, and on the hillsides you can see benches that were at one time the shoreline of the lake. There are rocky outcroppings, craggy peaks, the lakes from the springs at Fish Springs NWR, alkali flats and streams through sandy areas to the south of Fish Springs NWR. I know some people think the desert is pretty boring but personally I find it fascinating and exhilarating at the same time.
 Pronghorns on the flats of the West Desert Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light There is wildlife in the west desert, Pronghorns can often be seen foraging on the grasses or racing across the flats. White-tailed Antelope Squirrels sit on rocks and Coyotes wander the vast open areas in search of prey. Wild horses are also found in the desert. I still hope to photograph them one day soon because so far they have eluded me.
I’ve written more about Simpson Spring and Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge because they are favorite photography locations for me. See here for more.
I find peace, quiet and solitude in the West Desert of Utah along with great photographic opportunities. Everything about it fascinates me. I hope to explore more of it soon.
Mia
By Mia McPherson, on February 9th, 2012% Last September I visited Flaming Gorge National Recreation area for the first time. Wow, nature never ceases to delight and amaze me.
My eyes had trouble keeping up with all of the fantastic sights that I saw from the brilliant red walls of the Flaming Gorge Canyon, the stunning blues of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, the gentle slope of Antelope Flat and the rugged mountains of the Ashley Forest. I had heard about Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area but nothing that I had heard prepared me for the grandness of this area.
Flaming Gorge from above Sheep Creek Bay
Nikon D200, handheld, f/16, 1/160, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 18mm
John Wesley Powell; whose mapping party was the first known to make passage down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, discovered this area during his expedition in May of 1869. This canyon was named because of its “flaming, brilliant red” color and I can truly understand why. The image above was taken after the sun had risen, at different times of the day the red is much more vivid.
Flaming Gorge Dam
Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/160, ISO 400, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm at 18mm
In 1964 a 500 foot dam was placed in the Flaming Gorge Canyon to harness hydroelectric power from the Green River. Flaming Gorge Reservoir is 91 miles in length and this National Recreation Area; established by Congress in October of 1968, is shared by the states of Utah and Wyoming. To get from one side of the canyon to the other there is a road that goes across the top of the dam.
View from above the Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Nikon D200, handheld, f16, 1/125, ISO 400, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 31mm
Recreation in the area includes boating, fishing, hiking, camping, looking for petroglyphs, backpacking, horseback riding, cross country skiing and snow-mobiling. I haven’t found a site yet that lists birding or bird photography for recreation within the area but I’d say that the area is rich in birds and wildlife.
The dam is just out of view on the left side of this frame. In this location while I was there I saw huge flocks of Turkey Vultures soaring near the white bridge in the photo and several unoccupied Osprey nests. There were also Bald Eagles in the area.
Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) ewe
Nikon D200, handheld, f9, 1/80, ISO 320, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 300mm
We spent the first night camped near the Red Canyon Visitor Center in the cliffs about 1300 feet above the surface of the reservoir. Birds seen there included Turkey Vultures riding the thermals along the cliffs, Northern Flickers, Ospreys, Clark’s Nutcrackers and more.
I was super excited that there were herds of Bighorn Sheep in the area near the campsite, sometimes coming within 40 feet of the campsite and even closer to the truck. I didn’t see any rams unfortunately but I was able to photograph the ewes and their young. More images of the Bighorn Sheep can be seen here.
View of Flaming Gorge from the Dowd Mountain Overlook
Nikon D200, handheld, f16, 1/250, ISO 400, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 29mm
Another location where I spotted flocks of Bighorn Sheep was driving up to the Dowd Mountain Overlook which has expansive views of Flaming Gorge Canyon and Reservoir from an elevation of 8087 feet. Clark’s Nutcrackers also seem to love the abundant Pinion Pines in that location as I spotted many of them flying overhead. Of course I had my D200 with the wide angle lens in hand when they flew over, not when I had my 200-400mm VR within reach! It figures, right?
I’m not much on heights but walking along the edge of the overlook and looking down into the canyon was dizzying in a good way. My knees still wobbled some though.
Looking down on the Swett Ranch Historic Site
Nikon D200, handheld, f18, 1/250, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 80mm
Not far from the Red Canyon Visitor Center is an overlook that has great views of the Flaming Gorge Canyon and the Swett Ranch Historic Site. The ranch was occupied by Oscar and Emma Swett plus their nine children through most of the 1900′s. The U.S. Forest Service now operates the ranch as a working historic site. The ranch closes on Labor Day so I didn’t go down to get a closer view, I’m sure it is very interesting though and I adore photographing old buildings.
 Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) doe
Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm
Mule Deer thrive in the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and Ashley National Forest, it is not uncommon to wake up and see Mulies grazing not far from a campsite or see herds of them feeding on the grasses in open areas. Their eyes and long lashes enchant me.
Other large animals that might be seen are elk, moose, wild horses, mountain lions, and bears. I must admit that on the second night spent camped inside the tall pine forest I was cautious about walking around late in the evening or early morning because I didn’t want to meet up with a bull Moose, bear or lion. It was probably a bit too close to the road for them to visit, but you just never know.
Green River
Nikon D200, handheld, f11, 1/350, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm at 18mm
Below the Flaming Gorge dam the Green River provides great fishing opportunities in areas such as Little Hole, Red Canyon Stretch, Brown’s Park and Devil’s Hole. A 30 pound Brown Trout was caught in this area in 1996. The scenery alone is spectacular!
In case my mother reads this, no, I didn’t have my fly rod but I know you would love to fish on that river!
View from the camp site towards the Flaming Gorge Canyon
Nikon D200, handheld, 1/200, f16, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm at 18mm
After being primarily up in the higher country of the forest for two days it was quite a change to move camp down to Antelope Flats and the wide open, grassy plain along the reservoir. The quiet was amazing, the view tantalizing and a wonderful peaceful feeling enveloped me. There were small flocks of ducks that would fly by, gulls dipping their bills into the water and Common Loons floated on the gorgeous blue water. There is a loon in this frame in the water just above the Russian Olive but it is too small to see at the size posted.
View from the Antelope Flat camp site
Nikon D200, handheld, f22, 1/80, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 44mm
I won’t soon forget how wonderful it was to cook and eat garlic sautéed Shrimp and Cheese Ravioli smothered in Alfredo sauce while looking out at this view. I am certain that a Five Star Restaurant could not have topped this, not even close! Ah…
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) lift off
Nikon D300, f5.6, 1/400, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 235mm, not baited
While camping at Antelope Flat birds were not terribly abundant, I spotted Turkey Vultures, Horned Larks and several Golden Eagles along with the other birds I mentioned earlier. The Goldens weren’t very cooperative, they always seemed to be perched in areas where I couldn’t get good light on the birds or they would fly right towards the sun. I kept this image to inspire myself to get better images of them.
Even though birds are my primary focus and passion in photography being in places like Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area does smooth out the disappointment I feel when missing a great shot of a bird, it is just such a fantastic location. I think visiting earlier in the year might have increased the chances of seeing more birds and getting better shots of them.
Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) buck keeping an eye on his does
Nikon D300, f8, 1/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm
There seems to be a good reason that this section of Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is called “Antelope Flat”, it is much flatter than other areas closer to the canyon and dam plus there are plenty of Pronghorn there. Pronghorns are not technically “Antelope” but that is what they were called long ago and the name Pronghorn Antelope is still used today by some people.
Even though my visit may have been a little late to see larger numbers of birds it was very well timed for the Pronghorn because it was rutting season and this buck was trying to keep control of his does while chasing off interloping males. They must burn tons & tons of calories during rut because they are on the run all the time.
Pronghorn does on a hill in evening light
Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm
Every morning and evening the Pronghorn were close to the campsite in beautiful light watched over by the buck. He had over 25 does and young in his harem and they kept him on his toes; or more correctly his hooves, constantly plus there always seemed to be another male lurking just outside of his territory in the hopes of whisking away a few females of the dominant buck’s harem.
 A herd of Pronghorn on a ridge at Antelope Flat
Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 200mm
It was fascinating to watch the interactions of the Pronghorns as the buck would herd his harem up the ridges and how they always seemd to keep one eye on him while grazing, resting or looking towards me. Besides, they are beautiful, sleek and interesting creatures.
Evening Pronghorns
Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/4000, ISO 1000, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Ashley National Forest and Antelope Flat are all spectacular locations for photography plus it is simply a marvelous place to relax and enjoy the astounding beauty of nature.
Mia
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Photographing a Tricolored Heron from a tidal lagoon
Focusing on Wildlife Contributor
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