Least Chipmunk in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D810, f8, 1/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I was able to photograph several chipmunks high in the Wasatch Mountains yesterday while traveling the Sky Line Drive by starting in Bountiful Canyon and coming back down into the Salt Lake Valley via Farmington Canyon. It seemed like every where I looked I saw little chipmunks scurrying around on the ground and climbing in the scrub oaks that dot the western side of the Wasatch Mountains.
I adore chipmunks and have since I was a child and I will take photographs of them whenever I have the the opportunity. I was photographing some least chipmunks near the top of one of the summits that were feeding in some low shrubs when this one showed up on a fence rail out in the open. It only stayed still for a few frames then ran off to chase another nearby chipmunk.
I should have taken off my teleconverter when I was photographing this chipmunk and the others because the chipmunks showed up just a touch too close even though I was using FX Mode (full frame) and I had trouble getting enough depth of field to get the chippys all in focus and without clipping some body part. I had to settle for an out of focus tail here. Oh well, it was wonderful to feel cooler at the higher elevations for the morning.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Least Chipmunk photos plus facts and information about this species.
A charmer I will probably never see. Thank you.
We have a bunch of panhandling chippies that come when we call them (and when we don’t). They seem to hate each other but are unafraid of us. They take stuff right out of our hands, sit beside us on the arms of the chair, and whistle for us to come out and give them something…the squrrels are more cautious. They are undermining our patio with their tunnels, but we still like them…even when they come to the door and scold us……
I have raised a few in a rehab setting, they are the most ADHD critter I have ever met! They can escape through the smallest holes and climb around your whole body in 2 seconds all the while scenting (urinating) and nipping at you. By the time you have felt the first bite you have already been bitten at least 10 times. But I still love them.
Beautiful photo Mia. Very special little critters.
Beautiful chipmunk….so different. Great shot as always….even with an out-of-focus tail.