It’s nice to find a cooperative Swainson’s Hawk, especially the first one of the year. The topper was to hear this hawk call…man, oh man, did I miss that haunting cry.
 |
 |
Montana has been hit with massive amounts of snow over the last few days. Almost 5 feet of winter’s vengeance in East Glacier. Down in the Gallatin Valley, we got only ~6 inches. Regardless of the weather, the birds keep coming. It seems like there is a new first of year for me almost every day. Today was the appearance of the first Western Grebe. The pond at one of my favorite quick birding haunts was filled with Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shovelers, American Coots, a pair of Buffleheads, an Eared Grebe, and the stately Western Grebe. God, you gotta love love a grebey kind of day.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Today was the day to finally take the new D90 out for its maiden shooting session. The weather and light was not the greatest, to say the least. But I did manage to get the best shots of a Common Tern that I’ve ever managed. As these images show, I have already fallen in love with the Nikon D90. There will be a review forthcoming soon of the Nikon D90.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The last “good” shots from the D100
 |
 |
 |
Farewell old friend
On Tuesday, April 21st 2009, our dearly beloved Nikon D100 went on to its eternal resting place. It was the victim of an unfortunate fall into the pavement. The blunt trauma resulted in a terminal crack of the circuit board. D100 is proclaimed deceased and a wake was held in its honor complete with cursing and drinking of ale. D100 was 5 years old and had many great adventures from the cloud forests of Costa Rica to the rocky mountaintops of the Rockies. The images are the best and most memorable that D100 had to taken over its lifetime of dedicated service.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
What a Day! Sam Koenen and I went for a loop drive from Bozeman to Blacks Ford and then on to Three Forks along the Madison River. The sheer number of Red-breasted Mergansers was staggering, ~42 at Blacks Ford alone. We sighted our FOY Long-billed Curlew and a Loggerhead Shrike at the Greycliff Fishing Access. We next visited the Madison Buffalo Jump State Park where we heard a Sage Thrasher among the multitude of Western Meadowlarks. The Three Forks ponds held a pair of Ruddy Ducks, more Red-breasted Mergansers, and the most cooperative Common Loon. A pair of FOY Osprey were on the nesting platform near the ponds. In a non-bird related note, Sam spied a pair of Western Painted Turtles at the Three Forks State Park along with a White-tailed Jackrabbit at the Cobblestone Fishing Access. We both had 6 FOYs although different constituents on those lists.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Full WilderTrack Trip Report (maps and images) at WilderTrack
This post covers both Saturday and Sunday of an incredible weekend
Saturday
 |
 |
This morning I started the day at the Cherry River Fishing Access with several Cinnamon Teals and a Great Yellowlegs. The surprise was a Columbia Spotted Frog engaged in amplexus with an otherwise dead partner. Seems like froggy love knows no bounds. It was very unexpected to have a frog this early…a nice pleasant surprise. I decided to walk down the trail to the East Gallatin Recreation Area, and I happened upon a deceased Meadow Vole…a bio-geek’s dream. Of course, I had to pick it up and take a documentation pic with the cell phone (camera battery was dead…bummer). |
Later in the day, Non-birding Vida (NBV) and I went down to the Bear Trap Canyon on the Madison River for a little relaxation and vino. A Canyon Wren was singing high up on the rocks and Red-breasted Mergansers (a single male and his two “bitches” – NBVspeak).
 |
 |
 |
|
Sunday
The morning started at the Cherry River Fishing Access where a male Northern Harrier was doing a remarkable display flight that consisted of acrobatic roll and twists. As he was flying by, a Wilson’s Snipe was winnowing overhead, a welcome sound indeed. Three Ring-necked Ducks were swimming in the pond with a multitude of American Coots carrying-on with their squeaks and chases with the participants running atop the glassy surface. An American White Pelican glided overhead briefly as the Sandhill Cranes trumpeted in the open fields. The Killdeer numbers are definitely picking as well.
At the East Gallatin Rec. Area, the spring’s first Tree Swallows were calling and feeding over the cottonwood forest. Richardson’s Ground Squirrels were all over the place.
What a great weekend!
A cooperative Clark’s Nutcracker is always a joy to the photographer. Every once in awhile you have a great hike, and today was that day. Non-birding Vida (NBV) and I went up to the M that sits over the Gallatin Valley. We had several good birds including Mountain Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, and Townsend’s Solitaire. The star of today was an overly tame Clark’s Nutcracker that sat perched atop a Limber Pine.
John Carlson of Prairie Ice has images and a write-up of a hybrid Great Sage-grouse/Sharp-tailed Grouse. This makes me think about the biological species concept and the inherent fuzziness of species. We like to think of species has completely distinct, but nature is much blurrier than we would like to believe. This bird is currently on the lek, and engaging in an eclectic mix of sage-grouse and sharp-tailed behaviors….very strange indeed.
Went out this morning for my walk after pulling an all-nighter (awesome WilderTrack changes coming) to recharge the batteries. The first stop was at the East Gallatin Recreation Area. The birds were in full throat, but alas, not that approachable for images. Somewhat dejected, I decided to take the quick loop over Kelly Creek to the east side of Bozeman. Coming over the small pass, I spied to 2 Sandhill Cranes in a snow-covered pasture. They were calling and stayed for quite some time (until a UPS truck come barreling past- a**hole). The images seemed to turn out alright and reflect the feeling of these magnificent birds.
 |
 |
 |
 |
