a Fall hike

Smoke from the huge fires on the west coast has diminished.  I can see the mountains from the house now.  This morning was grey and drizzley, but by early afternoon the sun was out.  I drove north to Middle Cottonwood Canyon and had a lovely hike.  The trail follows the creek for a mile, then goes up the hill to an open area.  Gray clouds came over the ridge and dropped hail.  I turned around and hiked down.     

Rainstorms in the city gave the high peaks the first snow of the season.  I did take a few photos.                                                                                                                                                             

 This new format is very difficult to use.  

I wanted to post several photos, but only the first photo will stay.  Dogwood is the red bush, Vine Maples on the left in yellow.                

                                                           

                                                                                  

What's happening ?

      To answer this often received question I am saying “not much.” Working M – F is happening, but this job is sloooooooooooooow. Sometimes after work I go for a walk at Sourdough Trail, or Cherry River FAS. FAS stands for Fishing Access Site, a state-designated area with a dirt parking lot and trails to a river or lake. Any interested birders reading this can look at ebird for my avian findings.

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 I was quite impressed to find so many Baird’s Sandpipers at Harrison Lake. It’s a species I

don’t know well. Franklin’s Gulls are molting their black heads, and Avocets have lost the rusty-brown on their necks. Migration is happening. I saw a Wilson’s Warbler yesterday evening. They come thru Bozeman on their migration routes.  

 

 Smoke from the California wildfires is blowing over WY and MT. The morning Sun was red and so was a crescent Moon. Some evenings there was no sunset, only gray skies. “Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.” Very dry forests burn quickly. The LNU fire near Lake

Berryessa and highway 128 has burned some of the places the Audubon group visits for birding.  80 % of their Christmas Count circle has been burned. When I lived in Sacramento, that group would find 140 bird species during Christmas count. The SCU fire has burned in Del Puerto Canyon, another good birding location.

I hiked up Bear Canyon last weekend (photo below) , and in the Storm Castle area 2 weeks ago  (photo at the bottom). 

PS.  Format for writing and adding photos has changed significantly.   not looking good now.

Bear Canyon is closer to Bozeman and has a lot of activity from ATV’s and dirt bikes.
No wonder there are few bird reports from there.

Storm Castle is a popular hiking trail in the Gallatin National Forest.  Birding is good in the Spring.  Smoke from California has made the view dark and hazy.

Franklin's Gull molting

Spring migration in MT

    When I lived in Sacramento I knew one of the trip leaders had lived in Montana.  He often raved about the diversity of birds he had found in MT.  It's true, I discovered.  May was spectacular.  Birders reading this post may check out Ebird postings for the counties of Gallatin, Yellowstone, Madison, Cascade, Jefferson, Broadwater and Lewis + Clark.  Yes, it was alot of driving, there is alot to see in this state.  Its not flat like so much of Wyoming.
     Spring was so green.  Aspens that had been winter dormant for many months, popped their buds and grew little leaves.

This trail north of Bozeman had a good mix of habitats for birds.  Meadows, riparian, roadside brush, and leafing out Aspen trees.  Flowers will come soon.











Birds I did not expect:  both Eastern and Western Kingbirds along the same road.  Catbirds !  Mimicking, and singing of all their friends they spent the winter with.  American Redstarts totally surprised me.  They are not lost, other birders were reporting them as well.
    These Blue-winged Teal males spent a month in the same pond.  I wonder if the females are sitting on eggs nearby.




a view across Gallatin Valley, north of town. 

 The other good news is I have finally been accepted for a job.  I am now the Administrative person at the Bozeman branch of Youth Dynamics. Look at their website, they are doing good things for kids.  

I could not resist taking a photo of this young colt with the mare in a field.





I was watching a group of Lark Sparrows in a gravel parking lot when 3 Lazuli Bunting males flew in to join them.

Avocets have returned from wintering in Mexico and California.

an early morning photo,  sunbeams thru the branches of a coniferous forest.  It was a beautiful morning, with few birds.

Birds are convinced

March and April snowstorms covered the land with more snow.  With the temperatures up to high 50's, snow has finally melted in Gallatin Valley.  Willow bushes have their yellow tips waiting to burst into catkins.  Buds on Cottonwood trees are slowly enlarging.  It will be another few weeks until those buds pop.  Birds are coming back, Spring migration has finally started.
       This Meadowlark is happy about Spring, and so are the Song Sparrows.

I was happy to find the Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and the Marsh Wrens.

Mountain Bluebirds are sitting on fences with their mates.  Such pretty birds.


I did not photograph the Tree Swallows.  I have seen them twice in the past 2 weeks.





Sandhill Cranes are "getting down to business" and will be raising a new generation.

time out in Bozeman

With the Coronavirus craziness, all the places I wanted to work at are closed, including my favorite Park.  What to do ?    Birds !   I can drive west to the open landscapes where I might find a Bald Eagle, or a Red-tailed Hawk.  I did a longer adventure and drove further north to a reservoir with a good Ebird report.   Snow Geese !   I did not photograph these birds because they were far away and mostly sleeping.  I had good 'scope views of a solid line of white feathers, with an occasional neck extended up for a look.  
     Photo to the right was taken north of the reservoir along the Missouri River.  The Lewis and Clark expedition traveled thru this area on their way to the Pacific Ocean.

another photo of the landscape near Missouri River's  Devil's Bend

Mountain Bluebird on a windy day.









     Tobacco Root mountains to the west of the town of  3 Forks.  Madison River in the foreground.

This photo was taken from Madison Buffalo Jump State Park.  The native American tribes would herd the buffalo toward a limestone cliff where they would fall over and be easier to kill.  Meat, skin, and all other parts would be harvested at the site.

male Pine Grosbeak.  I drove east a few miles on the highway, then exited to travel up a snow-covered road into the mountains. An Ebird report lead me to a small cluster of houses with feeders.  I found the pair of Pine Grosbeaks in the trees near one house, and coming for seeds on a porch.

male Hooded Merganser swimming in Oyster River,  one of the first signs of Spring in southern NH.  I spent a few weeks during late February and early March visiting family, and took this photo one morning.

Winter in Bozeman

There is not alot of snow in town.  Last week was gray and cloudy with the accumulation of an inch or 2.  Its been almost 2 weeks since the  "big"  snow of 4 inches.  Temperature has been plenty cold.  
     Over the holiday weekend I drove north and south to different locations.  I am starting to call this activity "winter walking"  and not Birding, because there are so few birds.  Magpies, always.  Sometimes a couple Chickadees, once I found a Red-breasted Nuthatch.  Monday I saw 2 Rough-legged Hawks.
     The top photo is of the Tobacco Root mountains with Missouri River in the mid-photo.  Below photo Missouri River at the headwaters, as it begins its journey east.                                                                                                                                   

The Madison River,  Gallatin River, and the Jefferson River have a confluence at this location.  Lewis and Clark named each of these rivers.  After the confluence, the Missouri begins its long journey .


Such a beautiful blue sky day, first in a long time.  This Bald Eagle just sat there, so I took its picture.


An Evening Grosbeak in an Aspen tree.

                                                                        

  

December

December weekends I spent following ebird reports.  Where are birds found in the Winter here ?   One successful trip was to Willow Creek, a small community to the northwest on the Jefferson River.  One house had several feeders in the yard.  I was excited to find American Tree Sparrows, Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, Oregon Juncos, Evening Grosbeaks, and 2 species of Chickadees.  I am still not used to hearing Blue Jays in this country.  They are having a big range expansion.
       Photo to the right of an American Tree Sparrow.
     The 2nd week in December is Bozeman  Ice Festival.  During the day many  "clinics" are held in the canyons south of town to teach people how to ice climb.  In the evenings movies or other presentations are held at different venues.  I attended a few talks on X-C Skiing across Yellowstone in Winter,  climbing 27 peaks in southern Montana in 4 days, making backpacks, and other topics.  Many young strong people.  I think I will not be trying ice climbing in this lifetime.
      Sunrises and sunsets can be brilliant and colorful from the house.

     
                                                     
Fire in the Sky













Bridger Range, Alpine Glow









Bozeman's Audubon group is Sacajawea Audubon, it is quite large.  The December meeting filled to capacity a beautifully restored theater in downtown, even tho the talk was on Wolves and not on Birds. Sacajawea Audubon supports 7 Christmas Bird Counts in the region.  Bozeman count,  Ennis (one hour to the west),  Livingston  (to the east, a very windy area),  north Yellowstone, West Yellowstone  (2 hours drive), Three Forks  (30 mins to the west),  and Ruby Valley  (only a few people birding this area).  
       I joined a CBC group on the 14th, and was assigned to the southwest corner of the count circle.  My team of 3 people found 34 species, only because the section leader knew the area well.  Who would know to look for Wood Ducks in the mostly frozen pond in a mobile home park ?   I was told that some years Bozeman leads the nation in high count of Magpies.  !!!   Temperature started at 16 F and peaked at 27 F.  
      Christmas at the Museum office was fun.  The store's manager saves all the samples he receives during the year.   Monday (16th)  he spread all those items out on tables in a classroom, added items that were not selling well, or were leftover from other events.   Employees drew names for our  "Secret Christmas person"  and we each went  "shopping"  in the classroom. There was no money involved.  
       The Christmas Camel made a brief appearance mid-week.  Picture a (plush toy) Bactrian camel about 3 feet tall wearing Reindeer antlers on its head, a red bow on its nose, and a brightly wrapped gift between its 2 humps.  A very good looking camel.



        This photo taken south of town.
and a Song Sparrow at Story Mill Park.

     

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.

Bozeman

By August my co-workers were being hired at other parks and resorts for the Winter, or making plans to return to their family homes.  I, too, was looking on-line for ideas to answer the question "Where to go at the end of the season?"    One of my many applications was to a temp agency in Bozeman, MT.  They offered an interview in mid-September and I accepted.  It was quite a nice adventure to drive thru Yellowstone, colorful in Fall dress, and north along hwy 191.  
      Photo to right is near south end of Yellowstone Park.   Photo below is of Lewis River.
       Interview completed, I returned by the same route thru Yellowstone.  Mid-October  the agency sent me another email asking for a 2nd interview.   I had 4 interviews in Jackson with no responses, so I agreed to drive north that weekend.  A snowstorm in Idaho Falls had me stay 2 nights waiting for the weather to clear.  
      Tuesday morning's interview was mostly paperwork, photocopy my passport, and  "We have a client who is interested in you."  Later in the afternoon I received another email from them.  The client is Museum of the Rockies,  please be there at 1 pm tomorrow.  By the end of Wednesday I was hired as the Administrative Assistant to the Director and other offices.
      Museum of the Rockies is the natural history museum for this region.  They specialize in dinosaurs and fossils, culture of the Native American tribes, history of Gallatin Valley pioneers, and of course natural history of the area. Education programs for school kids is another focus.  Montana is a good place to look for fossils because the exposed rock is of the right age to find fossils.  The Dinosaur exhibit is not as big as Yale's Hall of Dinosaurs, but it is very well done.

hike near Bridger Bowl.  Forest of Fir and Lodgepole Pine.  Chickadees calling from the trees.  There are Magpies everywhere.

east side of Bridger range after the early Fall  snowstorm.

view of the Bridger range, east of town

October suddenly

Less than a week after the last posting the Aspen trees turned golden, all at the same time, it seemed.  Beautiful Fall days were intermingled with rain and snow showers.  Typical mountain weather.
     I walked to Christian Pond to see if there were any ducks remaining on the pond.  Yes,  a few Mallards, Coots, and American Wigeons.   The Aspens were brilliant in gold.

Color change happened quickly, and faded quickly as a few cold fronts with strong winds blew the leaves around.

Grand Teton at sunrise is magnificent.










                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

I had a lovely hike in Cascade Canyon, with Mt Owen on the left  (photo)  and Mt St John on the right  (no photo here).  

 Elk are putting on a big show during their rutting time.  Bulls with impressive antlers run back and forth, monitoring the females in their harem, and bugling loudly to keep the other males from approaching.

Moose have been equally exciting in Gros Ventre CG in the south end of the park.  2 large males and 3 females walk the CG loops, eating bushes and sniffing the ground.  Males are looking for females in heat,  females seem uninterested in the attention.