![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/willow-flycatcher-5829-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"willow-flycatcher-5829-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nA handsome bird in a pretty setting. At least I think so.<\/p>\n
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1\/1000, f\/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n This Willow Flycatcher has apparently been hanging around the same spot in the mountains for a couple of weeks now but until two days ago I’ve had very little success with him (male is presumed because the female is responsible for the vast majority of incubation and brooding duties and it’s nesting season).<\/p>\n Personally I quite like this shot. If I had to pick a nit it would be the forked twig stabbing the bird in the chest but for me it isn’t a big deal. And I really like the soft and muted spring colors in the background. Both the bird and the entire perch are sharp, the scene is evenly lit with no harsh shadows and the flycatcher’s fluffy, backward-looking pose works well for me. I was even able to coax out a composition that appeals to my sensibilities.<\/p>\n It was a lovely morning when I took this photo two days ago and we’ve had some nice weather lately but that’s about to change. A cold front moves in tonight which is forecast to drop our temps by 15\u00b0. But that’s nothing compared to the Centennial Valley and surrounding area 300 miles north of here where I was camping last week. By tomorrow afternoon that area is forecast to get 2-4″ of snow. In the latter half of June! (see NBC Montana forecast map and link below)<\/p>\n We’ve had snow on our Montana farm all 12 months of the year. MT weather can be crazy! I’m sure glad I’m not in the Centennial Valley right now because driving those dirt roads and Monida Pass would be an absolute nightmare.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n