My first Pine Marten! This is the first pine marten I have ever seen in the mountains of Colorado. We had just passed the summit of Hancock Pass just over 12,000 feet and this pine...

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

This is the first pine marten I have ever seen in the mountains of Colorado. We had just passed the summit of Hancock Pass just over 12,000 feet and this pine marten ran across the trail in front of us. We had been driving our RZR (high clearance ATV) for several hours over a very rocky and steep trail. I yelled to my husband weasel!!! Stop! I jumped out and ran down the hill into the high grass where he had disappeared. I did not have my good camera with me as it is a very, very dusty and bumpy road and being a new set up and very expensive to me I was afraid to take it, plus you get rained on a lot.
Anyway, why I thought I would find it again is beyond me, but I had to at least look. There was a huge boulder field that is prime habitat for Pikas so I thought why not a pine martin! I sat there for quite a while as my husband looked at me like I was somewhat crazy, but he is used to me sitting for hours trying to get pika photos. Anyway, all of a sudden there he is bouncing over and through the rocks at lightening speed! I tried my best to find him in my Canon 100-400 lens and 5DM4. I found him, but getting it in focus was another story. And he was gone. He could go the length of a football field in less than 30 seconds. I sit for half an hour hoping he comes back. He did! This time he stopped once looking at me like what are you? Then off to the races over the boulders. I think I got one in focus. Never mind trying to get a good background etc. So I sit for another half hour and yes, he is back! But again so fast.... then he does stop on a rock and look at me again for about 5 seconds. I'm pressing the shutter trying to keep the box on his head (pretty far away) and I can see the lens is not getting focus... then at the very end one is in focus! Oh, another hour of sitting and he did not come back.
So the first is the one I thought was the best. At the end I will post a screen shot so you can see how cropped it is. So don't zoom in it is not super sharp. The others were just as far away or more.
There were lots of other great action poses, just not in focus....so hard to even find him in the viewfinder!

This was the best of the group

(Download)

Quixdraw Loc: x

Excellent job! Great series! I've only ever seen one on the property and never got a chance for a photo. That was years back, no sightings since.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Very nice set, good work.
Hard to believe that cute little bugger can be such a merciless predator.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

You did very well.

JoAnneK01 Loc: Lahaina, Hawaii

Excellent set!!! Your patience and persistence is extraordinary and you were well rewarded. Mahalo for sharing.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

WELL done on this elusive cutie ! ! .......thanks for sharing

mundy-F2 Loc: Chicago suburban area

Photolady2014 wrote:

This is the first pine marten I have ever seen in the mountains of Colorado. We had just passed the summit of Hancock Pass just over 12,000 feet and this pine marten ran across the trail in front of us. We had been driving our RZR (high clearance ATV) for several hours over a very rocky and steep trail. I yelled to my husband weasel!!! Stop! I jumped out and ran down the hill into the high grass where he had disappeared. I did not have my good camera with me as it is a very, very dusty and bumpy road and being a new set up and very expensive to me I was afraid to take it, plus you get rained on a lot.
Anyway, why I thought I would find it again is beyond me, but I had to at least look. There was a huge boulder field that is prime habitat for Pikas so I thought why not a pine martin! I sat there for quite a while as my husband looked at me like I was somewhat crazy, but he is used to me sitting for hours trying to get pika photos. Anyway, all of a sudden there he is bouncing over and through the rocks at lightening speed! I tried my best to find him in my Canon 100-400 lens and 5DM4. I found him, but getting it in focus was another story. And he was gone. He could go the length of a football field in less than 30 seconds. I sit for half an hour hoping he comes back. He did! This time he stopped once looking at me like what are you? Then off to the races over the boulders. I think I got one in focus. Never mind trying to get a good background etc. So I sit for another half hour and yes, he is back! But again so fast.... then he does stop on a rock and look at me again for about 5 seconds. I'm pressing the shutter trying to keep the box on his head (pretty far away) and I can see the lens is not getting focus... then at the very end one is in focus! Oh, another hour of sitting and he did not come back.
So the first is the one I thought was the best. At the end I will post a screen shot so you can see how cropped it is. So don't zoom in it is not super sharp. The others were just as far away or more.
There were lots of other great action poses, just not in focus....so hard to even find him in the viewfinder!

This is the first pine marten I have ever seen in ... (show quote)

Very nice set of pictures. First time I have seen this little guy.
Mundy

d3200prime

Plenty sharp enough! You did well!

mausernut01 Loc: Columbus Montana

Those are neat pictures. They are nice and clear and you caught him on the move!
I used to see them while back packing in the Beartooth Mtns near home, but could never catch them on the move .
Post some of your Pika pictures if you have some as good as the Marten pics.

Ken

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Excellent set, Beth! Your hard work paid off.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

parmruss

These are great photos! After several years of stalking the local WL refuges, I've only got one very fuzzy shot of a weasel.

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

BassmanBruce wrote:

Very nice set, good work.
Hard to believe that cute little bugger can be such a merciless predator.

I’m guessing he was looking for Pikas. There were several in the rocks where he was running around.

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

UTMike wrote:

Excellent set, Beth! Your hard work paid off.

I’m working on them. Will post soon! Oops wrong post!

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

parmruss wrote:

These are great photos! After several years of stalking the local WL refuges, I've only got one very fuzzy shot of a weasel.

Oh, I have plenty of fuzzy ones in excellent poses unfortunately!