Exploring the area

     Snow was on the ground for my first 2 weeks in Bozeman.  This week temperatures warmed up enough to melt the snow.  I was able to walk around the museum building at lunch time, and walk the  "green spaces"  near the house.  Following the ebird reports I have found city parks and larger ponds to look for birds.

     Photo above is Gallatin River as it flows thru Story Mill Park.  The history of this park is quite interesting.  In the mid-1800's farmers found this area to be good for growing wheat. In 1882, Nelson Story built a water-powered mill along with the largest grain elevator in the state.  More than 100 years later, many organizations and agencies restored the area and created a wonderful park.  A volunteer takes care of a bird-feeding area.  Evening Grosbeaks and House Finches enjoy the seeds.
                                                                                                                                           

A few Oregon Juncos foraged for seeds under the feeder.  (For interested birders, I did an ebird report for this location)

A Song Sparrow foraged in the brush.

Sunsets can be spectacular.  This photo was taken from the house looking east to the Bridger Range.
     Below photo is of the small backyard that is adjacent to a  "green space"  walkway.

During the summers of 2011 and 2012,  I came to Montana (and Bozeman) looking to add Gray Partridge to my bird list.  That did not happen. I finally found this gallinaceous bird in Idaho later in 2012.  Last week 5 Gray Partridges walked thru the hedge into the green space area.  !!






Yesterday I  drove west looking for certain ponds reported to have ducks and geese.  The problem now is that Winter has happened, ponds are frozen, and ducks have migrated south.  I found a huge flock of Canada Geese standing on the ice, a few Chickadees, and Magpies.
     Going thru Bozeman, Interstate 90 is signed for 75 mph with many drivers going 80 mph.     Several miles beyond the city the speed limit is 80 mph.  Way too fast for me !!  Karen and Subaru are meandering along at 65 mph.  I arrived at Three Forks just fine.