My First Of Year Uinta Ground Squirrel Photos

My first of year Uinta Ground Squirrel – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1000, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I took my first of year Uinta Ground Squirrel photos yesterday morning high up in the chilly Wasatch Mountains not long after the sun lit up the sagebrush. It was only 21°F when I reached my destination.

At first I could only hear the ground squirrels calling to each other then I spotted this squirrel of a sage stump. I pulled my Jeep over to the side of the dirt road and took a long series of images of my first of year Uinta Ground Squirrel.

Adult Uinta Ground Squirrel on a chilly April morning – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Up the road I found more Uinta Ground Squirrels out in the open. I stopped for every one of the squirrels that I wanted to. I had time, I wasn’t in a rush. It was my first trip up into the mountains in a long time. I wanted to enjoy them and relax.

Spring Uinta Ground Squirrel on a fallen stump – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Even though it was chilly the ground squirrels were active, feeding and a few were warming up in the sunlight. Spring comes a little slower to the high elevations but the sage has already started to green up.

Spring Uinta Ground Squirrel next to a burrow – Nikon D500, f9, 1/800, ISO 500, 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

It is still too early for the ground squirrel babies to be above ground so all of the squirrels I photographed yesterday were adults. This squirrel was standing next to a burrow.

While I photographed this squirrel my mom called and I was able to take photos of it while I chatted with her on the speaker phone. She knew exactly where I was because I took my mother up to the mountains when she visited me in 2018.

Uinta Ground Squirrel warming up in the sunlight – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

And this Uinta Ground Squirrel was next to the dirt road. I had to pull over to the far side of the road to be able to fit the squirrel into my viewfinder. Even then the squirrel was frame filling.

Uinta Ground Squirrel in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1250, ISO 500, 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The rising sun didn’t take long to warm the air up for me and the squirrels. These squirrels spent the entire winter underground in their burrows.

Adult Uinta Ground Squirrel on a cold April morning – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1250, ISO 500, 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

It was so much fun photographing these Uinta Ground Squirrels yesterday morning. I took my time and relished every encounter I had with them.

I did see and hear birds yesterday high up in the mountains including Sandhill Cranes, Song Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, Black-capped Chickadees, Bushtits, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, American Goldfinches and had one Bald Eagle fly over. I was able to find a porcupine feeding on the bark of a tree but couldn’t get a clear shot of it because of branches that were in the way. I also saw my first of season Least Chipmunk scurry across the road.

I enjoyed the birds, animals, mountains and the amazing views I saw. It was peaceful, quiet, and relaxing, so much so that I really didn’t want to head home.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Uinta Ground Squirrel photos plus facts and information about this species.