Least Chipmunk feasting on a ripe serviceberry – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Birds aren’t the only creatures feasting on the ripe serviceberries in the Wasatch Mountains right now, Least Chipmunks are also gorging on the juicy berries too.
Four days ago I stopped to take photos of an immature Gray Catbird in a serviceberry bush when two Least Chipmunks in two different different shrubs caught my eyes. The chipmunks were eating the serviceberries even before they were ripe and now that the berries have started ripening I am seeing more of these furry little chippies snacking on the berries.
When I see the chipmunks I can’t resist photographing them.
Least Chipmunk eating a juicy serviceberry – Nikon D500, f9, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This Least Chipmunk was more out in the open than the other one was so I focused my attention and my lens on it more often. It was close enough to me that there were times I clipped the tip of its tail in some of the frames where the tail of the chipmunk was straightened out. I was glad when it curled its tail slightly for a few frames because that meant I could take photos of it chowing down on the juicy berry without clipping its tail at the edge of the frame.
Least Chipmunk tasting a ripe serviceberry – Nikon D500, f9, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
With our very warm temperatures right now in northern Utah it almost seems hard to believe that these diminutive chipmunks are already getting ready to hibernate by fattening up and by gathering food to store over the winter in their burrows but they are. Usually by the middle of September I stop seeing Least Chipmunks in the high country of the Wasatch Mountains so I plan on taking as many photos of them as I can before then. With the ripened serviceberries and thistles going to seed in the mountains I should have plenty of opportunities in the next five or six weeks.
When I can get up there.
Yesterday I had hoped to go up into the mountains but a wildfire prevented me from going. I have to drive up I-80 to get to where I wanted to be but the interstate was closed down most of the day due to proximity of the wildfire. See here for more information on the Parleys Fire. Utah has already had 1000 wildfires this season and 750 of those were human caused. We are in a drought and the hillsides and canyons in the high country are dry as tinder. People need to be more careful.
When I can get back up into the mountains safely I hope to photograph more birds and other creatures enjoying the serviceberry banquet that is currently going on.
Life is good. Stay safe.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Least Chipmunk photos plus facts and information about this species.
I love chipmunks – especially the leasts! They’re so dainty and tiny and fun! Do the serviceberries taste good to humans?
Love seeing the Least Chipmunks having a feast! You have such a great eye for them. 🙂
California is busy with wildfires too and the “season” is barely starting. People are idiots or selfish or jerks (keepin’ it rated G) or all of the above. I don’t understand it either. 🙁
Beautiful photos in all posts, but this one is just vert telling of nature at work. Thanks
Awww.
They are super, super cute.
My heart stopped when I read ‘wildfires’ though. Too many of ours are deliberately lit or caused by thoughtlessness and carelessness too. I hope yours can be brought under control and that our summer is not a repeat of the last. So very much I hope that.
Great images! I love to capture photos with red stained faces and berry paws.
Your usual high quality photography, Mia. These little guys are all over my hikes in the Cottonwoods Canyons., but I do not know what they are eating.
Terrific photographs, Mia! Who could resist such adorable critters?
Saw my first “fall” warbler yesterday and as you noted, hard to think about “fall” anything right now with our good ‘ole Florida heat and humidity!
Great photos! I’ve never seen chipmunks eating serviceberries before. It makes sense, just something that I hadn’t seen before. Thanks for sharing