"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

"Fox kit in the grass" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Fox kit in the grass" 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!
See another photo of this fox litter
Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM with tripod
1/640s, f/4.0, ISO: 400, 500mm

"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.

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

"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)