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

"Heads up everyone" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Heads up everyone" by amontanaview | RedBubble:


Description:

A group of elk in January. Taken west of Victor, Montana USA at the base of the Bitterroot Mountains near Sweathouse Creek. There were a total of about thirty head in this group of cows, calves and a few spike bulls. Just a few miles south was another group, similar size and make up. In the fall when they gather together and our local herd becomes about 100 plus head. The big bulls are off in the higher country on their own this time of year.
See more photos in my SmugMug album Elk cows, calves and a few spike bulls
Canon EOS 7D, 1/500s, f/4.0, ISO: 200, 500mm, Manual setting
Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM lens, handheld over my arm on tree (I didn't want to spook them by setting up the tripod)

"Sweetness in an mule" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Sweetness in an mule" by amontanaview | RedBubble:



This mule lives with a group of farm mules and horses west of Victor, Montana USA in a very large, grassy pasture. They all have such personality. I love visiting them whenever I pass by on this country road.

Canon EOS 7D, 1/500s, f/4.0, ISO:500, 500mm
Canon EF500mm f/4L 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

"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.

"Morning light and dew on the willows" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Morning light and dew on the willows" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

This morning on our ten acres west of Victor, Montana USA. Taken near the north fork of Bear Creek in a beautiful, vibrant riparian area. The sun was coming up and streaming through the brush (leafless at this time of year) and refracting through the dew drops. Really interesting lighting.

See a few more photos from this morning at Morning light on dew in riparian woods

Canon EOS 7D, 1/400s, f5.6, ISO: 400, 275mm Manual setting
lens- Cannon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

"Elk in the Bitterroot Valley in January" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Elk in the Bitterroot Valley in January" by amontanaview | RedBubble:



Two cows and two calves were moving from a pasture into timber here. This photo has only one of the calves. The day was overcast and snowing lightly in early January 2012. To me, the interesting behavior was how the two cows stayed so close together as they milled around while I snapped the photos. When I left, they continued to calmly move up into the timber.
See more photos at Two elk cows and calves in January