"Fox kits, exercise in dominance" by amontanaview | Redbubble

"Fox kits, exercise in dominance" by amontanaview | Redbubble:



Taken west of Missoula, Montana, USA near the Clark Fork River in early June.
The Red Fox – Vulpes vulpes is a year round resident of Montana. This was a very successful litter, possibly two litters. The kits, I counted about 16 in the area, were different sizes, but seemed playful and healthy. I saw two adults bring in gophers and squirrels while I was there.
See more of my Red Fox – Vulpes vulpes photos at this link
These are the first fox photos I have captured. Very fun!
Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM with tripod
1/640s, f/4.0, ISO: 500, 500mm
See other photos of this fox litter and this one

"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

Vesper, our Maine Coon kitten, is trying to nap on the covered second story deck. He is on a stamped, aged sheet of metal I placed over the bird seed bin to help keep the squirrels out. Right in front of him and far out of his reach are a couple of very high hanging bird feeders that of course he loves to keep tabs on. Behind him is a Boston fern that he sometimes hides in. Sweet spot for a kitten on a breezy summer day. Taken near Bear Creek west of Victor, Montana USA Canon EOS 7D, 1/100s, f/2.8, ISO:320, 70mm SIGMA 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Aspherical DF Macro SLD Autofocus Lens Handheld, Aperture Priority"Hanging out on the deck" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Hanging out on the deck" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

"Fox kits at play" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Fox kits at play" by amontanaview | RedBubble:


Taken west of Missoula, Montana, USA near the Clark Fork River in early June.
The Red Fox – Vulpes vulpes is a year round resident of Montana. This was a very successful litter, possibly two litters. The kits, I counted about 16 in the area, were different sizes, but seemed playful and healthy. I saw two adults bring in gophers and squirrels while I was there.

Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM with tripod
1/6400s, f/4.0, ISO: 6400, 500mm

"Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

Photo was taken in July near Gash Creek in the Bitterroot Mountains, Montana USA.
Canon EOS 40D 1/400s, f/6.3, ISO:400

Every year I see these butterflies at this elevation on this native plant .The plant is Spreading Dogbane.

"South Fork Westslope Cutthroat Trout" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"South Fork Westslope Cutthroat Trout" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

The photo was taken in the world-class westslope cutthroat trout fishery in the South Fork of the Flathead River, Montana, USA. The Westslope cutthroat trout is one of two subspecies of native cutthroat found in the state. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the population of westslope cutthroat trout in the South Fork is the strongest and most vibrant in Montana, and perhaps in the entire West. Protecting their habitat is important for their survival. This photo was taken in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Canon EOS 7D, 1/100s, f/5.6, ISO:400
SIGMA 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Aspherical DF Macro SLD Autofocus Lens

"Timmy Tigger" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Timmy Tigger" by amontanaview | RedBubble:





Timmy was on the deck railing spending time with me. Aspen in the background. He is my buddy.

"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.

"Freda, a Chesapeake hunting for bass" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Freda, a Chesapeake hunting for bass" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

Featured again on RedBubble. This time in the group "For the love of dogs."
At the time of this photo Freda is a 1 1/2 year old female Chessy. In this photo, she is hunting for bass on the Flathead River in western Montana a few miles south of Buffalo Bridge. I am not sure if you would call this a “point” but maybe…
Shot with Canon 7D, 1/400s, f/7.1, ISO 800

"Two-tailed Swallowtail Butterfly" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Two-tailed Swallowtail Butterfly" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) on a ninebark shrub in the Bitterroot Mountains west of Victor, MT, USA. These visit my lilac bushes, too.
Canon EOS 7D, 1/640s, f/5.6, ISO:200, 300mm
Mallow Ninebark (Physocarpus, Rose Family)

"Montana Nature Calendar" Calendars by amontanaview | RedBubble

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

"Swallowtail Butterfly on Syringa " by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Swallowtail Butterfly on Syringa " by amontanaview | RedBubble:

Featured photo on RedBubble 10-8-2011 The Group - Homepage Click Here

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

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

"Bison browsing in the afternoon" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Bison browsing in the afternoon" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

"Lunching on timothy grass at Mud Lake Flats" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Lunching on timothy grass at Mud Lake Flats" by amontanaview | RedBubble:
Taken on an early August trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. We entered the Bob at Spotted Bear.

Cutthroat Trout

I have been busy with other work. Here is a nice fish, just for fun

The Moon over the Bitterroot Mountains

This morning I couldn't believe the sky over the Bitterroots. See how blue it was and how the moon looked so delicate and white.

Red-naped Sapsucker near Sweathouse Creek

I took these photos in late June and early July. They were in a medium sized Aspen snag in a fairly open, hot and dry area on the way up a ridge. They were really fun to watch as both the male and female fed their brood. The call is very distinct and is how I found them. Click this Red-naped Sapsucker link to hear the call.

At first I was confused about what kind of Woodpecker it was, but then I saw that the Red-naped Sapsucker has "messy barring" on the back. That is definitely how I would describe the barring on the birds in these photos. They are described as Bark Foragers - Forages for insects by gleaning, probing, prying, tapping, and flycatching. Drills series of shallow holes in bark of tree, licks up sap. The photos support this description.

By July 4, they had vacated the nest.

Click here to see all Merle's SmugMug Red-Naped Sapsucker photos in a new window.