Least Chipmunk On A Smoky Morning In The Mountains

Least Chipmunk eating in front of wildflowers from the aster family – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I couldn’t escape the smoke that is covering Utah even high in the Wasatch Mountains yesterday but I was delighted to photograph a Least Chipmunk and wildflowers through the smoky haze. The wildflowers are from the Aster family but I am not certain whether they are asters or fleabanes. The wildlfowers did add a nice pop of color to every frame I took of the chipmunk.

Least Chipmunk crawling down a branch – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This chipmunk spent its time going back and forth between this branch and a Round Leaf Snowberry that was right next to it. There were several Least Chipmunks in the area and this chipmunk kept an eye on them as it ate and moved around.

Least Chipmunk in front of wildflowers – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The smoke in the air did give my images of the chipmunk a color cast and even though I would have preferred clear air the slightly golden cast made the light in my chipmunk photos appealing to my eyes.

Least Chipmunk on a smoky morning in the mountains – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I haven’t photographed nearly as many Least Chipmunks this year as I usually do but they have been more of a challenge to find at times. I noticed that the serviceberries are starting to ripen yesterday which means I will need to start watching for them feasting on those berries. I hope to drive up into the mountains later this week and sit at the serviceberry shrubs that I know are a draw for these little chipmunks.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Least Chipmunk photos plus facts and information about this species.