Two-striped Grasshopper, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, UtahTwo-striped Grasshopper – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Two days ago I was up in a canyon in the Wasatch Mountains looking for birds to photograph when I spotted a hummingbird hovering near a Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) so I stopped my Jeep and waited for a bit to see if the hummingbird would return. While I waited I decided to take a few images of the milkweed even though they are now past their prime and some of the blossoms are wilted. As I photographed the milkweed I was delighted to see a grasshopper on one of the leaves and I took several images of it.

I researched Utah’s grasshoppers and found out that this is a Two-striped Grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus) and even though I may have seen this species of grasshopper before it is a photographic lifer for me. I don’t get to photograph grasshoppers very often here in Utah like I did in Florida so taking images of this one made me happy.

The hummingbird didn’t reappear so I moved on down the road.

My trip through the canyon after taking photos of this grasshopper was quiet and peaceful and even though clouds were building up I was able to check out several areas to see how the chokecherries and service berries were doing and scouted several locations that I think might be good for seeing birds feasting on the berries in a week or so. I’ll just need to be at those locations when the light is good, park and wait patiently for the birds to show up.

I also heard a bull elk calling which is the first time I have heard that bugling call this year. I have never gotten any decent photos of elk in the Wasatch Mountains but perhaps this year it will happen. Who knows?

Life is good.

Mia

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