American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis

Lots of Goldfinches here (west of Victor, MT USA) this fall.

See more below.

"Chokecherries for dinner" by amontanaview | Redbubble

"Chokecherries for dinner" by amontanaview | Redbubble:



American Robin – Turdus migratorius. Robins were feeding on our Chokecherries (Chokecherry – Prunus virginiana, in the rose family) in early September. Taken west of Victor, Montana USA. The Grosbeaks began feeding on this bush and even though the robins are a smaller bird, they took over this bush. It was fun to watch the frenzy as the hopped, flapped, chased and then gobbled the berries, large seeds and all. My first time catching a robin catching a berry.

Canon EOS 7D, 1/160s, f/4.0, ISO: 320, 500 mm, manual setting, tripod
Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM lens

The largest thrush in North America. The male has deep grayish to dark-brown upperparts with blackish head, white crescents above and below eye, rich reddish underparts with white throat streaked with black and white undertail-coverts. The bill is yellow. The female is similar but paler overall. Juveniles have a spotted breast. This species is common year-round over all of Montana.

"Cassin's Finch - Haemorhous cassinii" by amontanaview | Redbubble

"Cassin's Finch - Haemorhous cassinii" by amontanaview | Redbubble:

Taken August 27, 2012 west of Victor, Montana USA near Bear Creek in the Bitterroot Valley. Male Cassin’s Finch on an Aspen tree branch.

They are a Species of Concern in Montana though no significant threats have been identified. Given their occurrence in burned and harvested forests, the population declines that have been identified recently are difficult to explain.

Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM, used a tripod
1/200s, f/7.1, ISO:640, 500mm, manual setting

"Pileated Woodpecker family" by amontanaview | Redbubble

"Pileated Woodpecker family" by amontanaview | Redbubble:

This photo shows an immature woodpecker on the left and a mature male on the right. Taken near Bear Creek west of Victor, Montana USA.
Canon EOS 7D – Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM lens on a tripod.
Manual setting, 1/1600s, f/4.0, ISO: 250, 500 mm, slightly cropped.
There were six birds in the group but this only shows two. The Pileated Woodpecker – Dryocopus pileatus is a species of concern in Montana partly because of loss of habitat (large enough tracts of mature forests with snags for nesting). This species is one of the largest and most memorable forest birds in North America. It’s nearly the size of a crow, black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest. Look (and listen) for Pileated Woodpeckers hammering at dead trees and fallen logs in search of insects like carpenter ants. They excavate unique rectangular holes in the wood. The nest holes of these birds also provide crucial shelter to many species including swifts, owls, ducks, bats, and pine martens.
See another RedBubble image of these two feeding
See more photos on Merle’s SmugMug site

"Short-eared Owl profile" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Short-eared Owl profile" by amontanaview | RedBubble:





Short-eared Owl – Asio flammeus. A bird of open grasslands, the Short-eared Owl is one of the most widely distributed owls in the world. But populations fluctuate greatly along with prey population cycles. It is listed as Potential Species of Concern in Montana.

This species hunts day and night; mainly at dawn and dusk in winter. It flies low over open ground, locating prey by ear and kills prey with a bite to the back of the skull; often swallowing prey whole. Nests are a scrape in ground lined with grasses.

Taken in a wetlands management area (protected) of the Mission Valley in western Montana, USA.
Click here to see another SEO image on my RedBubble


Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM lens
1/3200s, f/4.0, ISO: 200, 500mm, lens hand held (would have used a tripod but didn’t have time to set it up)

See more photos at Short-eared Owl – Asio flammeus on my SmugMug site
This was my first Short-eared Owl photo op. I was thrilled that it gave me this opportunity.

"Short-eared Owl " by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Short-eared Owl " by amontanaview | RedBubble:



Short-eared Owl – Asio flammeus. Taken in a wetlands management area (protected) of the Mission Valley in western Montana, USA. This owl is a year round resident of Montana and prefers to live and hunt in open grasslands, even agricultural areas like this. It is one of the most widely distributed owls in the world. A medium sized owl averaging 15 inches in length, it is the most diurnal of owls often hunting during the day. I think it was posing for me; the eyes mesmerized me and my camera.

Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM lens
1/640s, f/8.0, ISO: 250, 500mm, lens hand held (would have used a tripod but didn’t have time to set it up)

"Yellow-headed Blackbird" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Yellow-headed Blackbird" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

Taken May 9 at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge north of Stevensville, Montana, USA.

"Birds of a feather eat together" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Birds of a feather eat together" by amontanaview | RedBubble:


Cinnamon Teal – Anas cyanoptera is a small dabbling duck, male and female are shown here. This photo was taken north Stevensville, Montana USA at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge in early April. This duck is a summer/breeding resident of Montana preferring wetlands and ponds to the moving water of rivers.

"Great Blue "awk!" Heron" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Great Blue "awk!" Heron" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

Taken north of Stevensville, Montana USA at Lee Metcalf NWR. Great Blue Heron on a log. It was alone and calling out…as you can see. Look close and the tongue is out. Hilarious. The log is sitting in water of a slow moving stream on the refuge. It is spring, early April, and I suspect it is looking for a mate (and food).

Canon EOS 7D, zachlazzari@gmail.com
1/500s, f/4.5, ISO 200 500mm. Camera was held over my arm – no time to set up the tripod.

Red-breasted nuthatch making a cavity in Cottonwood snag

Red-breasted nuthatch building a nesting cavity in a Cottonwood snag. West of Victor, MT near Bear Creek - 2012.03.27 this is the sixth day I have been watching this process. In the 2 minute video you get an idea how long it takes to excavate a cavity. They actually excavate up to 4 holes and choose one to raise their brood in. In the audio, you will hear a little bit of wind.

Red-breasted Nuthatch - nest cavity Click the link to the left to see online album of still photos on SmugMug - same nuthatch.

One of my favorite Bitterroot River slideshows

Jack, John Hickman, Freda and I fished the lower Bitterroot on Sunday. Quiet, beautiful day and the fishing was great, too.

Steller's Jay - Cover photo for Montana Naturalist Winter 2011-2012

Cover photo for Montana Naturalist Winter 2011-2012 
From my Steller's Jay series. Sequential photo is available on RedBubble.

"Steller's Jay in winter" by amontanaview | RedBubble: Study in blue. Blue sky peaking through the clouds and a blue Steller’s Jay on a Ponderosa Pine branch covered in hoar frost. Taken near Ronan, Montana USA. Canon EOS 7D, 1/320s, f/5.0, ISO: 320 Cannon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens

"Adjusting the perch on a Cottonwood branch" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Adjusting the perch on a Cottonwood branch" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

Bald Eagle in winter. He saw me taking photos and wanted a better look at me. Lucky me, I love it when I can get a little action in a photo.

Taken west of Victor, Montana USA in the Bitterroot Valley.
Canon EOS 7D, 1/4000s, f/4.0, ISO: 320 Manual setting, 500mm, cropped slightly
Lens - Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM

"Bringing dinner to the kids" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Bringing dinner to the kids" by amontanaview | RedBubble:
Red-naped Sapsucker – Sphyrapicus nuchalis in western Montana. Taken west of Victor, Montana, USA in early July. The chicks fledged (flew out of the nest) about a week later. The tree is a Quaking Aspen.

"Red-naped Sapsucker ready for take-off" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Red-naped Sapsucker ready for take-off" by amontanaview | RedBubble:



Featured in RedBubble group, Woodpeckers Worldwide.

"Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

Red-tailed hawk photo taken at the National Bison Range, Mission Creek, near Moise, Montana USA. MCN :: CAU4Y-VLMF4-B1MEW
Plumage is extremely variable, ranging from very light forms to very dark forms. The “typical” color phase is dark brown above and white below, with a band of dark speckling across the belly (belly band), and a rusty-red tail (paler underneath). Flying birds are white with brown barring underneath, dark brown edges around the wings, and dark brown shoulder patches.
The immature Red-tailed Hawks of all color phases and races look similar to the adults, except they have brown barred tails and more brown streaking over the rest of their bodies.
Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM lens
Canon EOS 7D, 1/6400s, f/4.0, ISO: 320, 500mm, Manual setting

"Montana Nature Calendar" Calendars by amontanaview | RedBubble

Visit Montana all year long with your Montana Nature Calendar "Montana Nature Calendar" Calendars by amontanaview | RedBubble:

"Steller's Jay in winter" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Steller's Jay in winter" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

This photo and four more of mine are in the Montana calendar. See the link below.

Best selling NBC Montana weather calendar for 2012 is on sale

The 2012 Montana Weather Calendar, sponsored by NBC Montana stations, is filled with beautiful and weather-related Montana photographs along with fascinating weather information.Two weather calendars are available for 2012:Weekly 6" x 9" engagement calendar, weekly...

"Red-naped Sapsucker ready for take-off" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Red-naped Sapsucker ready for take-off" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed Grouse - Bonasa umbellus

Ruffed Grouse (Photo by Merle Ann Loman)

Lewis called this bird, "the small brown pheasant" and he said it was "booted" or feathered to the foot. Actually, the feathers don't quite reach the foot. Click the link to the slideshow for photos that illustrate these points.

A very popular game bird, the Ruffed Grouse can actually benefit from fire and even logging. Ruffed grouse inhabit dense cover of mixed conifer and deciduous trees and shrubs and are often found along stream bottoms. The mosaic of vegetation that grows in under the burned tree canopy or more open, logged area is beneficial to the grouse providing them secure cover.

If you have been in the woods and heard a drumming sound in the spring, you may have heard a male Ruffed Grouse performing his mating ritual. To identify the Ruffed Grouse, look for the fan-shaped, banded tail and black ruff. No other grouse has these attributes.

The female builds a nest on the ground and usually hatches her eggs in June or sometimes early July. They will remain in the area and within a smaller home range and more densly covered habitat than the farther-ranging dusky or spruce grouse. Adult ruffed grouse may spend most of their lives in less than two square miles of habitat.

The young move from the area where they were brooded, especially when subject to moderate hunting pressure or heavy predation, but most importantly for food. The young grouse switch from a diet rich in insects, berries and greens to the foods that sustain them over the winter, including alder and aspen buds. During the early season, ruffed grouse usually feed on the ground, but once the snow flies, you will see them feeding among the branches of the trees. So if you are hunting for Ruffed Grouse in the fall, look for dense mixed woods with lots of alder or aspen.

For more info:

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks -- Ruffed Grouse
Discovering Lewis & Clark – Ruffed Grouse
Montana State University Extension Office – Ruffed Grouse
Merle's SmugMug photo site – Ruffed Grouse