Mountain chickadees (identified by their distinctive white eye-stripes) are common at high elevations in most of western North America.   These birds were photographed in California, in aspen forest along Convict Creek in the eastern Sierra of Mono County and in the San Jacinto Mountains.

• Canon 10D, 1D Mk. II, 1D4, or 7D2; 500 mm IS lens plus 2X converter or 800 mm IS lens plus 1.4X converter, fill-in flash (2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2015)