Say hello to Scratch! One of the five fawns born on the property this spring, if you look at it left hind leg, you see a kinda nasty gash in its leg. It’s how I recognize Scratch. Now you might think the fading spots on its flank are the sign I’m talking about, and while that’s a good sign that fall is here, it’s not the sign I was thinking about. Rather, the fact that Scratch and the other four fawns no longer care about me or, more importantly, Maggie when we’re out and about. Scratch actually walks up to within six or seven feet of me, like it did this evening. That tells me it’s Sept, it’s another sign.

While the weaning summer has me missing certain aspects, the promise of fall and working with mammals is exciting! I have a number of mammal adventures on the docket for the fall, Kodiak Brown Bears are at the top of the list. The planning to be with them started nearly a year ago, that’s a long time to wait, but it’s required. Started with getting a new style of waders and boots as well as warming up the fly fishing arm. Yeppers, we do both so being prepared for both is a must. The biggest thing is going through previous images to relearn the lessons and set new goals with the new opportunity. This female was fishing with her feet for spent salmon, coming up from time to time to breathe and, obviously, shake. The year has gone by fast since last time with them, which is a two-edged sword. Can’t believe fall is almost here, it’s hard to shake it!

First, the parents come back. You can tell they are the parents as their feathers are severly warn and stained. Within a day, normally, you see fresh looking and you know those are the kids. The kids for the first month are very entertaining as they chase the parents around to be fed. Then they strike out on their own like the male Downy, where the whole world is bright and new. I was in the hide when it came in. It first landed on top of the hide. Then, within a few moment flew over to where you see it here. There it sat for the longest time as other woodpeckers fed at the feeders. Finally, it was its turn. So much fun to watch and photograph. Nice to have them back.

If you haunt the banks of Montana’s riverbanks this time of year, you will more than likely find young waxwings foraging. Both Cedar and Bohemian kids take advantage of the summer bug hatch to feast now that mom & dad are no longer providing for them. While they are missing their spots on their wings, being young, they don’t know to be shy around people, so they come right in. Now they don’t hold still for long as they are foraging and the hatching bugs, but they land constantly to refocus their efforts. Finding those perches, be it a twig, a rock or the ground, and working your way up to those perches when they are out foraging, you can have a lot of fun while getting some nice images. It’s a way to take advantage of when the kids hit the river.

Solid overcast can at times, be a real photo buzz killer! There is a reason why folks say with downturned lips, “It’s a gray day.” When on the shore and these conditions are present, I look for terns. Their pop of bright color really makes them pop in this light. And this light makes bringing all the detail in their feathers really crisp. On this morning, the terns were T’d up on these pilings, and the water in the background reflected the gray skies. All that was needed was to wait for their common trait of looking over their back and complaining at their landing neighbor. Or as I think of it, the ‘ol tern around.