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