Uinta Chipmunk in front of a sunlit tree trunk – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I spent yesterday morning traveling Mirror Lake Highway in the Uinta Mountains and came home with a few photos of Uinta Chipmunks. I should say I am reasonably sure that these are Uinta Chipmunks and not Least Chipmunks because of their dark ears, the reddish coloration in their tails and the pattern of the stripes on their backs and sides. If I am incorrect I don’t mind being corrected.
I’ve submitted a few of these photos to iNaturalist for verification but I haven’t had great success in getting answers from iNaturalist with chipmunks in the past so I am not holding my breath.
This chipmunk was on a rock in front of a sunlit tree trunk which gave me this spotlight type effect.
Uinta Chipmunk on a small rock – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/4000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
There was a pair of the chipmunks chasing each other around on the rocks at the edge of the road and a forest of trees not far from the summit of Bald Mountain pass. I would say that this was a male chipmunk because I could see two little male bits in other photos. 🙂
Pair of Uinta Chipmunks – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The Uinta Chipmunks moved around on the rocks and boulders at lightning fast speeds which meant that they were hard to keep up with. Sometimes they were close to each other and sometimes they were apart.
Uinta Chipmunk in the high Uinta Mountains – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Even though it was hard to track them with my long lens I had fun doing it. I adore chipmunks.
Uinta Chipmunk on a lichen covered boulder – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I also liked the setting that the chipmunks were scurrying around in. Some of the boulders had lichens on them in the most fascinating patterns.
Uinta Chipmunk resting on a sunlit boulder – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
When the two chipmunks finished chasing each other around this male laid down and rested on a sunlit boulder for a few seconds.
Uinta Chipmunk grooming on a boulder – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And then he groomed his fur. This is this chipmunk’s “good side” His left side had two large patches where his fur was missing. I can only wonder why he had those patches of missing fur.
Bald Mountain Pass View – June 7, 2021 – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 18mm, natural light
It wasn’t a very birdy trip into the high Uintas but I enjoyed the views, the birds I did see and the clean, fresh mountain air. It was great to be back in these mountains.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Uinta Chipmunk photos plus facts and information about this species
What an interesting set of pics! I love the contrasting textures between the chipmunks fur and the lichen splashed boulder. Great shots! Thanks Mia.
Total charmers. Thank you.
These little guys are making me smile today! Thank you! So glad you were able to get up into the mountains I’m heading up into some of our local mountains tomorrow to help out at the music camp I used to attend — the last shot definitely has whet my appetite for the drive up! 🙂
Beautiful series, I love the one laying down in the sun. The missing fur patch could be from fighting, they are feisty with each other specially at mating time. How were the wild flowers?
The wildflowers weren’t putting on much of a show yesterday although the Glacier Lilies were starting to bloom near Trial Lake. Most of what I saw blooming were balsams. I saw a lot of low shrubs that are dying. Worried about the drought up there too now. Loads more dead big trees than two years ago.