Killdeer Chicks at Red Rock Lakes NWR
Killdeer chicks are precocial and active soon after hatching and will leave the nest as soon as their down dries.
Hidden Short-eared Owl Fledgling
I know that this hidden Short-eared Owl fledgling image isn't one of my best because of the grasses in front of its face and the shadow of a stem falling on its left eye but I love it.
Short-eared Owl In Flight Over A Wet Meadow
This Short-eared Owl in flight over a wet meadow was just one of my favorite images taken yesterday in the Centennial Valley.
Juvenile Mountain Bluebird on the way to Gravelly Range
I was also delighted to photograph this juvenile Mountain Bluebird on the way to Gravelly Range early in the morning.
Migrating Least Sandpiper at Red Rock Lakes NWR
I photographed this migrating Least Sandpiper in the same pond as the Wilson's Phalarope chick at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge but on different days.
Beaverhead County Red-tailed Hawks
These are a few of the Beaverhead County Red-tailed Hawks that I have photographed while on this trip to Montana and Idaho.
Jackpot! Lifer Northern Pygmy-Owl with Prey
I went looking for a mammal species yesterday and dipped on them but hit the jackpot by getting a lifer bird, a Northern Pygmy-Owl and it had prey!
Wilson’s Phalarope Chick at Red Rock Lakes NWR
I was photographing a Wilson's Phalarope chick and it was in fact the youngest phalarope chick I had ever seen!
New Genus for Sandhill Cranes
Another change that has officially occurred was that Sandhill Cranes were moved from the genus Grus to Antigone.
Trio of Red Fox Kits in Montana
In this photograph the trio of Red Fox kits were close together outside of the den and I liked how they appeared to be waiting for something.
Red Rock River Cliff Swallow
This Cliff Swallow resting near the Red Rock River was cooperative and gave me the opportunity to photograph it on a strand of barbed wire fencing.
Lake Mist at the Lower Lake of Red Rock Lakes NWR
Waking up and seeing the lake mist at the Lower Lake and an ephemeral pond near it with birds in the air, on the lake and feeding in the pond is amazing.
Low light Ferruginous Hawk in Flight with Nesting Material
I was able to create several images of this Ferruginous Hawk in flight with nesting materials over a field of sage and lupines despite the low light.
Uinta Ground Squirrel Calling from a Lichen Covered Boulder
I was very happy to photograph this Uinta Ground Squirrel calling from a lichen covered boulder last week in southwestern Montana.
Cooperative Vesper Sparrow in Montana
Five evenings ago I was able to photograph a cooperative Vesper Sparrow in Montana's Centennial Valley.
Pronghorn Doe With Her Fawn
Seeing this Pronghorn doe with her fawn three mornings ago brought joy to me and photographing the fawn while it nursed and ran around getting the feel of its long legs made me happy.
Centennial Valley Eastern Kingbird
Mountain Bluebirds and this Centennial Valley Eastern Kingbird were the first two bird species I photographed on this trip to Montana and Idaho.
Adult Swainson’s Hawk in Golden Light
This image of a Swainson's Hawk in golden light was taken not long after the sun rose and I love how the light seems to make the hawk glow.
Chip, Chip, Chipping Sparrow
I photographed this little Chipping Sparrow yesterday evening at the Upper Lake campground at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.
Nature is calling
Nature is calling and I am answering her call. I am happy to be off on another new amazing adventure.
The Day My Short-eared Owl Obsession Began
Six years ago today I photographed my first Short-eared Owl in low light at Bear River MBR and it was the day my obsession and fascination with these beautiful owls began.
Uinta and Richardson’s Ground Squirrels
By doing more research I found out that Uinta and Richardson's Ground Squirrels and the rest of the ground squirrels in North America have been changed to Urocitellus.
Mountain Bluebird Plumage Development Stages
These images from different times of the year show Mountain Bluebird plumage development stages from not long after fledging to adulthood.
Update on my Nikon D810 and a Red Rock Lakes NWR Sunrise
I wanted to post an image with my D810 update instead of having a white page with just text. This photo of a Red Rock Lakes NWR sunrise is one that that I created on the last day of my last trip to Montana last year.
Merlin in Southwestern Montana
Last September I was able to observe and photograph a Merlin in southwestern Montana over a period of several days.
Nonbreeding Sora in the Centennial Valley of Montana
Last year I had the pleasure of photographing this nonbreeding Sora in the Centennial Valley of Montana.
Barn Swallow in a fog at Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana
I had forgotten about photographing this Barn Swallow in a fog at the Lower Lake of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge until I was going through my archives yesterday.
Western Wood-Pewee in the Centennial Valley of Montana
Western Wood-Pewees are drab, medium-sized, flycatchers that breed in the open forests and riparian habitats in western North America.
Mountain Bluebird chick in Montana
This young Mountain Bluebird chick was photographed last summer at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Montana.
Sunset at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
This image shows a sunset at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge from September 9, 2015 but every sunrise and sunset on our national lands is a treasure.