Long-tailed Weasel portrait on the last day of summer, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UtahLong-tailed Weasel portrait on the last day of summer – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I am thrilled to share these Long-tailed Weasel photos taken on the last full day of summer at Farmington Bay WMA which are all thanks to a Rock Wren.

Rock Wren at Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UtahRock Wren at Farmington Bay – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The Rock Wren caught my eyes and my attention. I rapidly decided to move closer to the wren so I could get frame-filling images of it, and I did. While I was photographing the wren I caught movement in my peripheral vision and saw the Long-tailed Weasel moving around on the rock pile the wren was perched on.

Long-tailed Weasel close up on a rock, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UtahLong-tailed Weasel close up on a rock – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Trying to photograph the weasel was challenging because it appeared to be on the hunt. The weasel never stopped for more than a second or two and was in hyper-drive the rest of the time.

Long-tailed Weasel staring at me, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UtahLong-tailed Weasel staring at me – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The brown and yellowish weasel was also close to me. I was so close that I could only take portraits of it. Incredibly, it was harder tracking the weasel up close than it would have been if I had been farther away from it.

Curious Long-tailed Weasel on a rock, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UtahCurious Long-tailed Weasel on a rock – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

When the Long-tailed Weasel slowed down and stopped moving I was more than delighted to take these portraits of it. A few times, it even appeared that the weasel was curious about me sitting in my Jeep taking images of it.

Focused Long-tailed Weasel, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UtahFocused Long-tailed Weasel – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Most of the time I had the weasel in my viewfinder it looked as though it was focused on something else. Something I wasn’t seeing that the weasel was zeroed in on.

Long-tailed Weasel with a leaning rock, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UtahLong-tailed Weasel with a leaning rock – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light

After the weasel moved to another spot I took off my teleconverter as I drove forward in the hopes that I could get some full-body images of the striking furry creature. I was only able to get a few photos of the weasel standing and resting on a leaning rock before it completely disappeared from my view.

I was so excited to take these photos of the Long-tailed Weasel that my senses were tingling all the way home.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Long-tailed Weasel photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my Rock Wren photos plus facts and information about this species.