Haven’t been out much over the last few days with the constant rain and lower temps. This afternoon the rain stopped and I got a chance to head out and about. I went over to the tried and true East Gallatin Recreation Area, and I discovered that the area was under a foot and half of rushing chocolate milk-colored river.
I was able to pick up Black-headed Grosbeak, Yellow Warbler, and Northern Waterthrush.
Disappointed in that I could not complete my planned route, I headed over to Cherry River. The usual cast of characters with a Common Yellowthroat providing some great views as it sang. I ran into a guy who mentioned that he had seen 9 White-faced Ibis over at East Main wetland.
The Ibises did not disappoint as they were resting and feedings in a temporarily flooded area, and great displaying Calliope Hummingbird were added to the day’s list. As I was leaving the area, I came across a Western Terrestrial Garter Snake that posed nicely for a few photos.
It was nice that the weather had finally cooperated and that I had some time to think as my life is going through a big change. I’ve been on that edge of better things ahead and despair. Not that I want to be melancholic, but I hope that things will work out.
Today, I was going along the Gooch Hill and Stucky Roads and I saw my first Bobolinks and a Western Kingbird of the year…not much to report but pretty cool.
I went for an epic biking bird tour today. 29 miles on the bike! And a few firsts of the year as well. The route of my trip was a circuit around the eastern end of the Gallatin Valley. Along the bike route I stopped several birding jaunts and even a short hike (what was I thinking??). The route Google Earth and GPX are available at the end of this post.
In Town
On the way to the East Gallatin Recreational Area, I observed Brewer’s Blackbirds, American Robins, House Finches, House Sparrows, and American Crows in town.
East Gallatin Recreational Area
The morning was warm and overcast, so birds seem to be stirring at slower pace than the day before. Many of the birds were the same as yesterday with a couple of additions; American Dipper cruising upstream over the near flood stage East Gallatin River and an Eared Grebe joined the Western and Clark’s Grebes on the lake. I did manage to get a macro image of a bee - ID is mission impossible. I also was able get a real bad image of the nesting House Wren, so at least I know that I can keep trying with that pair.
Cherry River Fishing Access
Riding over the Cherry Fishing Access, the habitat is a bit more marshy (if that is a word), so I turned up a Sora, Common Yellowthroat and Marsh Wren. I ran into the Director of Montana Audubon, Steve Hoffman. As shot the shit, a Common Gartersnake slithered by on the edge of the pond. I was able to quickly capture it and make a few mental notes on the patterning.
Onwards to Kirk Hill
From Cherry River I proceeded on the long haul across valley to Kirk Hill. The wind was just starting to blow, so the going was a little tough. Along the Cottonwood Road, a pair of Yellow-bellied Marmots were sunning in the Kuntz’s horse pasture. Turning toward Kirk Hill, the wind blew at my back and the going was downhill (thank God, Buddha, insert deity here). At Kirk Hill, I took a quick hike and turned up a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets and a Red-naped Sapsucker. I also saw a female little Mule Deer doe. The hike route is available below as Google Earth and GPX files.
The Rest of the Route
The remainder of route was all downhill going down the Sourdough Road. This was a great route for my first long ride. my previous long ride was ~10 miles.
Today I had the good fortune to go with Sacajawea Audubon group on a trip led by Lou Ann Harris. We had a medium sized group of about 15 souls. Our destination was the East Gallatin Recreation Area. We had several spring arrivals and a reacquainting with old friends. We were able to score Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and American Redstart for the warblers. Wilson’s Snipe was visible and calling in a wet pasture to the north. So many birds that were cooperating, I brought the camera and began to…I forgot the battery for the camera.
We continued through the cottonwood-aspen bottomland forest and picked up the first flycatcher of the year…a Least Flycatcher. As we continued to the lake, we were able to find Western Grebes, a lone Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, and Northern Shoveler. We circled the lake and the conversation turned to rare birds and dream birding locations. I meet an awesome couple who had just came from the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. They had a passion for birds and butterflies, and I was had gotten their names - I hope to run into them again. Speaking of Butterflies, we saw many Mourning Cloaks and the first Painted Lady of the year.
At the east end of the lake, a couple of Western Painted Turtles were basking on an exposed log. As we admired the turtles, Andrew Guttenberg (the wunderkind) spotted a Clark’s Grebe in with the Western Grebes. This was my Gallatin County bird…awesome. This is the aforementioned but.
As I stated before, I forgot my camera battery, so I returned to the East Gallatin in the evening. I managed to get images of the grebes and my first herp capture of the year, a Western Terrestrial Garter Snake who managed to stink my hand to a deplorable degree (see goofy self-portrait).
Yesterday as I was riding home from a client’s location, I did a little birding from the bike. I was able to see displaying Brown-headed Cowbirds and Brewer’s Blackbirds. The most unique sighting of the day was a an almost completely black Red-tailed Hawk. The tail showed just a hint of red shading.
In another note, the Costa Rica trip seems like it is a go. I’m getting super excited about a return to CR. I have begun to generate a target list using my local copy of WilderTrack. As a side note, WilderTrack is nearing release as soon as I get the database on the server and some business things lined out.
This morning I was greeted by a familiar dry trill…a pair Chipping Sparrows had taken up temporary residence in my yard. A new yard bird for me and a Bozeman FOY. Not earth-shattering, but as we down here lag behind the rest of the state, exciting nonetheless.
I was informed today that it I will be taking a working vacation to my favorite place in the world…Costa Rica. I went to CR about 5 years ago and I have always wanted to return and see more the country. This time around I am definitely going to concentrate more on birding, herping and diving. My mind is simply reeling with the possibilities.
Resplendent Quetzal (dipped last time)
Take 1,000s of images (100s last time, too conservative)
Shark Dive
Fer-de-lance…not to handle but at least see.
Crocodile images (Rio Tarcoles)
etc, etc
Here are a few of my favorite pics from my last visit.
This was an amazing recipe made with good friends and beer.
Ingredients
2 pounds of flank steak (trimmed)
1 medium onion
5 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
Cumin
Kosher salt
1 lime
1 avocado
1/2 cup of white wine vinegar
1 cup of olive oil
Small flour tortillas
Full Sail Nut Brown Ale
Chipotle-Tomatillo Sauce (made previously)
Preparation
Slice flank steak across the bias into strips
Prepare marinade with lime juice, white wine vinegar, cilantro, garlic, cumin, kosher salt, and olive oil. Allow to sit for 1 hour.
Place meat on heated bbq, or run out of gas and go for an amazing option. Heat a dutch oven on the stovetop (high). Place strips on the dutch oven in batches.
After removing the meat, deglaze the dutch oven with Full Sail Nut Brown Ale. Add onion and leftover marinade. Cook down until dark and syrupy.
Slice avocado and construct with tortilla, carne asada, the beer onions, avocado, and the chipotle-tomatillo sauce.
This is a super easy and tasty recipe…perfect with an IPA or pale ale.
Ingredients
1 Pound of sliced chicken breast
12 Tomatillos
6 Chipotle chilis with adobo sauce
1 Medium yellow onion
1 Head of Garlic
Tortillas
Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Chili Powder
Salt
Pepper
Preparation
Roast tomatillos in dry frying pan until they are nicely charred in the outside.
Roast garlic in a 400 degree oven for 30-35 minutes until the garlic is nice and soft. Set aside and allow to cool.
Fry sliced onion until soft with caramelized edges.
Place chipotles with adobo sauce in food processor. Put chopped tomatillos, roasted garlic, onions, chili powder, salt and pepper in the processor.
Blend until it reaches a texture you like.
Lightly dredge chicken in seasoned flour. Place batches of chicken strips into oil at medium high heat. After removing the chicken from the pan, put them on a cookie sheet and into a warm oven.
Once all of the chicken has been fried, pour the sauce into a clean frying pan and bring to heat. place the chicken into the pan and allow it to simmer for several minutes.
Place chicken on on a tortilla with several slices of sharp cheddar cheese. Spoon some of the sauce on top and roll tortilla.
Serve with a refreshing brew (in this case, the Wailua Wheat Ale with passionfruit from Kona Brewing). Now that’s a meal.
Sam Koenen and I great day of birding today. We started the morning off at Cottonwood Resevoir in the Shields River Valley. Here we sighted the following notable species;
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Brewer’s Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Marbled Godwit
Willet
American Avocet
Black-necked Stilt
Wilson’s Phalarope
Baird’s Sandpiper
White-faced Ibis (very extensive white on the face)
Blue-winged Teal
Western Grebe
Sage Thrasher
Long-billed Curlew
We continued our tour down the valley toward the Yellowstone River, and we turned up a Wood Duck near Clyde Park.
We next went up to the Mission Creek bench near Livingston where we had McCown’s Longspur and Barn Swallow. Red-tailed Hawk descended from on high and netted itself a snake (not identified).
Once back home in Bozeman, we stopped by Cherry River Fishing Access and had good concentrations of the usual cast characters and our first herp of the year, a Western Terrestrial Garter Snake.
A great day of May birding was done and a nice IPA was earned. So, imagine my surprise when Sam called in the evening saying (ok yelling) about a Dunlin. It was such great news the pizza was slammed in the frig and we quickly proceeded to the Gallatin Regional Park where the most cooperative Dunlin posed for several (another correction, 178) photographs. You can see these in my gallery as well a shot of the Solitary Sandpiper and Sage Thrasher from the day.
