Today I embark on another Montana camping trip but this one’s going to be a little (a lot!) different in a variety of ways.
- Most similar trips in the past have been for less than a week. This one will likely be for about 12 days.
- Typically my destination for these trips has been the Centennial Valley of southwest Montana. This time I’ll spend a few days in the valley and then head for the family farm near Cut Bank, Montana in the northwest part of the state (about 30 miles from the Canadian border).
- The reason for the timing and duration of this trip is that I’ll be attending my 50th high school reunion. Should be fun. And interesting…
I’ll hopefully be photographing birds and wildlife the entire trip. I’m generally not fussy about what subjects I find but as I’ve contemplated the trip I must admit that two raptor target species keep coming to mind.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc , not baited, set up or called in
The first is the dark morph Red-tailed Hawk. I’ve had relatively few opportunities with the dark morph but I was able to photograph this one last month in the Centennial Valley. This bird may still be hanging around in the same area and I’ll definitely be looking for it or any other dark morph I might find. I think this color phase is striking and beautiful, especially with their wings up. The hawk has a piece of debris on the end of its right wing that would have been easy to clone out but I chose to leave it.
1/400, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 40D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
My second target species for the trip is the Great Horned Owls on the farm. This is the breeding pair that has been resident on the farm for many years now. The larger female on the right has just landed next to her mate in an old granary cutout and she’s beginning to turn around to face the same direction he’s facing.
1/125, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
When I visit the farm I usually try to be there in June so I can see and photograph the youngsters before or soon after they fledge. This time I’m sure I’ll be late for that but I hope to find at least one young bird. I hear that one of the owls died this spring and I suspect it was one of the fledglings.
1/1000, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Here’s a slightly younger owl photographed as it warmed itself in the morning sun on the east side of an old granary on a cool Montana morning.
So those are my target species for this trip but I’ll be photographing other birds and wildlife too. One of the exciting things about these trips is that I just never know what I may find, especially in the Centennial Valley and surrounding area.
It’s been several years since I visited the farm where I grew up and I’ve missed it. A lot. I’ll not only be able to revisit my old haunts but I’ll be spending time with cousins that I’ve been very close to my entire life – one of them lives on the farm. There’s a variety of raptor species in the area and I’m anxious to have a go at all of them and Glacier National Park is nearby so I hope to have the time for a visit.
The vistas, sunrises and sunsets on the farm are spectacular. This shot is of a sunrise on the farm a few years ago, looking over some old granaries, vehicles and farm equipment on top of a hill. There’s been no color enhancement to the image and I’ve deliberately posted it larger than most images in my blog.
Throw in old high school friends I haven’t seen for many years and it should be a very interesting trip.
Ron
Ron, I wish you the best trip! Have fun at the reunion I just attended by 45.
I hope you have a wonderful trip and enjoy that class reunion. May the birds be plentiful and cooperative, and the weather pleasant. The sunrise photo of your family farm is just gorgeous – that sunrise is as gorgeous as the sunsets we get in El Paso (who knows about sunrise? I’m very rarely up that early!).
Hope your time is as wonderful as your shots Ron!
Charlotte
Have a wonderful, wonderful trip. In all aspects.
I admire your courage too. I would sooner have a root canal session with no pain relief than attend a school reunion…
I hope you have a safe journey, accomplish your photography goals and have a great time on the farm and at the reunion.
Well it turns out my 50th class reunion is this year as well. Difficult to believe, isn’t it Ron? You know, we lived in Portland, OR for 15 years, and I missed the landscape of Utah so badly I thought that if I did not come home I just might disappear. And every time I visited I listened to Wallace Stegner read “A Sense of Place” on the drive. It’s likely you’ve read it but if not, I highly recommend it. For me, no one captures the meaning of place like Stegner. And listening to it on CD is magical (except for the tears that make it difficult to drive). Have a wonderful trip! Can’t wait for your posts.
Cathryn
Your journey sounds like it will be wonderful! Looking forward to sharing your adventures! Safe and happy travels, Ron!
Ron, I enjoy all of your images but today I have found a favorite; the third shot in this series of the fledgling with its back to the camera. It is beautifully composed and the fact you shot it at 1/125 of a second with the 700mm arsenal you used makes it all the more special for me. I know how difficult that can be. I wish you happy hunting on your upcoming trip back home for your 50th. That’s quite a milestone. We loved our visit to Glacier National Park. It should be awash in wild flowers this time of year.
I’m so happy for you that you have this opportunity to reconnect with so many things and people which mean so much to you……..carpe diem !
Ron, Your trip sounds like it’s right up your ally. Lots of wildlife, beautiful scenery, lots of friends & family and a lot more time for all of it. Of course we who visit you will also reap great photos from your trip!! Sounds like a win – win situation. I hope it far exceeds your expectations. Be safe & party hearty!!
Enjoy, Ron. I hope you have fun reconnecting with your classmates. My 35th is this year. It will be the first one I’ve been back for so I’m looking forward to it. Great Horned Owls are a fave of mine. I can get them to answer me when I hoot at them. 😀
Arwen, I attended my 40th and had a blast. Hope this one is as much fun.
I LOVE this series…so many things I love are pictured….Beautiful!!! I’ve always enjoyed your banner showing the farm silouetted at sunset when I bring up your blog each morning…I hope your trip home is as wonderful in every way as it can be– good weather, good friends–old and new, compatible family, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, plenty of birds and other wildlife. All in good health…Bon voyage!!!
Wow, if all that comes to fruition I’ll be in 7th heaven, Patty. Thanks!
I’m jealous. Montana is where we want to live. Enjoy!!
I hope you make the move someday, Jean. And if you do that you love it up there.
Ron, breathe in and enjoy it all.
Thanks for the dark morph shot
The dark morphs are pretty neat, aren’t they, Diana?
Looking at this image of the dark morph, it’s easy to see why some call this bird “little brother of the eagle”…(Golden eagle)…
Bon voyage! I envy you – Loved Montana, Big Sky country, man as soon as we crossed the border into Montana it was truly Big Sky Country! That fact has always impressed me and stayed in my memory bank. Love the sea and New England, otherwise, as I have said, I would have moved to Montana and near Glacier National Park.
Have a fantastic time at your 50th!
Thanks for the good wishes, Dick. And yes, “Big Sky Country” is the perfect descriptor.
Your farm and its inhabitants are absolutely beautiful! Someday I hope to make it to this beautiful land where you grew up! Have fun at your 50th High School Reunion Ron!
The farm is a special place for me, Nancy. I hope you make it to that part of Montana one day too. Thank you.