Lots of variety today.
Yesterday while looking for something else I stumbled across some photo memories of a camping trip to southwest Montana in early June of 2013 that I thought were more than interesting enough to share. They should give you a feeling for why it’s one of my favorite areas to visit.
A male Black-headed Grosbeak that allowed me to get unusually close. I haven’t had many opportunities with this species in Utah so finding this handsome guy was a real treat for me.
After photographing the grosbeak and after a slow half-hour drive on a rough dirt/gravel road this is where I found myself. Depending on whether you travel east or west from this point the opportunities for spectacular views and/or myriad wildlife and birds are almost limitless.
On these trips I spend most of my time west of here, in my native state of Montana. The Centennial Valley and the headwaters of the Missouri River aren’t far down the rocky road behind me and to the right.
A tiny Ferruginous Hawk chick in the massive nest it was being raised in. There were actually three chicks but two of them were hunkered down in the bowl of the nest.
How often does a photographer get a raptor and an elk in the same photo? I had a hard time trying to decide whether to focus on the hawk or the elk and I didn’t do a great job on either one but I still think it’s an interesting and even unique photo. The hawk never took its eyes off of the elk.
A mated pair of Red-tailed Hawks in a very old dead tree. This was the second year in a row that I found these hawks in the same tree. The male, at bottom, seems a little worried that his mate might poop on him. She didn’t.
This is the view that greeted me each morning as I left my campsite. This mixed habitat of wet grasslands interspersed with sagebrush flats was unusually productive for wildlife, including but certainly not limited to Short-eared Owls, Pronghorn and even the occasional small band of elk that would come down out of the mountains in the background to spend the night and early morning grazing on the flats.
A protective mama badger in the middle with two of her teenagers. I was pulling my camping trailer and on my way home to Utah when I found the badger family and I was using my 500mm prime lens so in this photo the badgers are a little tight in the frame. As you can imagine, with the trailer hooked on I couldn’t maneuver to give me more room in the frame.
I’ve made many trips to this area over the years and this one was one of the most interesting and productive. If my bad back ever cooperates I’ll be back.
Ron
Happy Fathers Day to all you papas out there!
Looking like an amazing place to explore… I would love to explore this place with my son… Thank you for sharing your experience Ron!
I’ve been lurking a bit. Your posts and photos always bring me joy.
Hi Ron. Nice post. I really love that landscape shot, I know you don’t generally consider yourself a landscape photographer specialist but man that is a stunning photo and view. Have a great week my friend!
Hey Gary, I always enjoy hearing from you. It reminds me of the good old days we shared on NPN. I really appreciate your feedback on that photo. I don’t even know how to evaluate a shot like that. All I know is I like it.
Very nice photos, Ron. Thanks, and Happy Father’s Day.
Thanks, Nina.
Happy Father’s Day…so glad you can celebrate it with a healthy daughter!(nice, nice photos)…
Thank you on both counts, Patty.
Interesting characters, indeed. And then some. The badgers are a real treat.
Thanks, Lyle.
Happy Fathers Day, Ron, I do hope you can make it back. Wonderful photos, fabulous neighbors. I should go explore the area, I have not been there. I like to tent camp and I only have a passenger car, albeit my car has been where many of it’s kind have not.
Give it a shot, April. The roads are a lot better now than they used to be.
A very Happy Father’s Day to you.
And thank you for giving us this generous gift this morning.
Thanks, EC.
What a glorious selection of images — thanks for taking us on that trip down memory lane, Montana-style! I can’t even pick a favorite — from the grosbeak down to mama badger & her brood, each offers a wonderful look at the things that make your home state such a special place (one of my favorites to visit).
Happy Father’s Day to you & your fellow papas❣️
Thanks, Chris. I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Love this series Ron – Montana is certainly God’s country! It’s glorious!! Am headed there in two weeks for a wedding. That hawk nest looks so huge!! Thx for sharing the hawk + elk shot – it’s quite special.
I hope you have a wonderful trip to Big Sky Country, Kathleen.
Fabulous! Esp the mountains and the two hawks. How wonderful to be able to experience all of that on such a lovely day. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you, Pat.
I know from past posts that being a father is very impportant to you, Ron. Happy Father’s Day.
Lovely post. I especially envy you the badger opportunity.
Thanks, Nancy. Yup, to say that Shannon means a lot to me is an understatement.
Ditto to all the Feathered dads. Excellent series Ron. Like them all, but my two favorites are the tiny precious Ferruginous chick and the scenic shot with the mountains in the background. What a beautiful area to visit.
It might be my favorite place in all the world, Everett. Well, maybe after the Montana family farm… 🙂
What a fabulous trip that must have been ! The sheer variety of animals you
were able to see and “capture” was wonderful– and such a green and lush
place—I hope to see such places again–thanks for the memories.
Thanks, Kris. I photographed quite a few other species on that trip too but I’ve already posted most of those photos. All of these photos are new to my blog except for #6 and I posted that one a long time ago.
Beautiful and fun trip down memory lane Ron… 🙂 Wonder how on earth the tiny hawk could navigate that nest without getting in trouble. 😲 Your morning view from your camp site certainly would get the day off to a positive start. 🙂 Needed the 500 mm for the Badgers to stay safe I would say! 😉
Light rain here – we’ll take it! Happy Father’s Day to you and the other fathers out there.
Judy, that nest was very, very impressive. It’s obviously been used, and added to, by generations of Ferrugs. I have to wonder how many generations…
Terrific series today! The black headed grosbeak is a first to be seen for me. I would not want to get between mama badger and her young…that is not a welcoming look. As Marty said…’what a beautiful land we live in’! Happy Father’s Day to all.
Thanks, Kathy. As you can see by the look on her face mama badger wasn’t very subtle about her displeasure with having that noisy (trailer on gravel road) rig of mine stop so close to her and her kids.
A very Happy Fathers’ Day to you, Ron! ❤️
You’ve given all of us a huge present this morning. What fantastic shots and memories of your trip. I absolutely love the little fuzz-butt peeking out over the edge of that humongous nest. What a beautiful land we live in.
Thanks, Marty. I’m only the father of one (by design) but she’s pretty darn special.
Shannon certainly is pretty darn special — and more! Hope you two get a nice long chat today and an in-person visit very soon!