Marty’s photo of the day #4441: One of the treasures of Montana’s Bitterroot Valley is the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. It’s my go-to spot whenever I want to enjoy a few hours of great photography opportunities. This morning I got up at 5:00 a.m., took a quick shower, and timed my drive to get to the wildlife refuge at sunrise. I also wanted to be early enough to beat other photographers to the first photo blind (which only holds two people).
With no cars around, I was excited to be the first to the trail. Yay! I hurried to the blind and stepped inside.
Damn! When I looked through the camera openings all I could see was green. Because of all the rain last month, tall reeds now blocked the view to the water and all the birds. No wonder I had no competition for the blind.
I had other options, such as hiking a mile or so out to the far photo blind, but I wasn’t wearing my hiking boots, and the bird action didn’t appear to be as amazing as it usually is. So I walked back to my truck.
Fortunately, photography trips to Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge never end in shutouts. As I was leaving, I spotted two fawns near the road and their mother a hundred feet away, calling for them. The fawns were not quick enough for mom, so they both got spankings! I doubt the fawns felt much pain from their spankings, but knowing mom was pissed was all that mattered.