Friday, August 19, 2016

Iowa to Montana

Sunflower fields lined the roads through three states

On August 5th we left Duluth before dawn to go to Forest City, Iowa to Winnebago Industries Service.  We arrived at 9:30 am after 5 1/2 hours on the road and signed in as a non-appointment and were put in line with 40+ others.  Looked like we would be here for awhile before our refrigerator was fixed. thankfully - free camping while we wait.




We took a very interesting tour of the factories that put together our RV among several other models.  Almost everything is made in-house and over 3,000 employees work hard putting quality homes on wheels together.  No photos allowed inside but here is our finished product.
Prothonotary Warble at Union Slough



We took a couple birding trips to area wildlife areas: Crystal Lake and Union Slough.  And we found a nice little church to walk to on Sunday where all 12 of us enjoyed the service and fellowship.

We got in line at the service area on Monday at 6:45 am to wait just in case a technician became available.  Kept checking with the service supervisor so they knew we were there.  Next day, same routine.  At 9:30 our name was called and we felt like we had won the lottery.  By 3pm - refrigerator fixed.  We met a lot of nice rver's in the same predicament as us and it was fun visiting about travels and petting everybody's dogs.  We stayed another night to make sure everything was working well.  Yeah!!  no more buying ice every day.
Leopard Frog


 On August 10th, we headed west camping mid-South Dakota at the Snake River State Recreation Area.  After some strong storms through the night we moved northwest camping near the Missouri River.  We kept seeing more and more western birds including this flock of Sharp-tailed Grouse sunning on the hay bales.


We drove into North Dakota and got the last available campsite at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  Next morning early we drove the 36 mile auto tour of the "badlands".  We found herds of Bison, Mule Deer, several Prairie Dog towns and a of course the beautiful rock formations.  That evening we had 50+ Common Nighthawks in migration and in the morning serenaded by an E. Screech Owl.
Prairie Dog

Mule Deer fawn

Mule Deer in velvet

Pronghorns




The next day we drove to the Northern Unit of Theodore Roosevelt NP and the 28 miles scenic drive.  We found distant Bighorn Sheep, Pronghorns, a stampede of Bison, and some wild horses.
Wild Horses




These unique rock formations are called Cannonballs.   These concretions were formed when sand grains from an ancient river deposit were cemented together by minerals dissolved in groundwater.
American Avocet



We drove into northeast Montana and Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge.  A good start on our Montana Bird List and adding western birds to our year and even our retirement list.

We drove to Glasgow and got the last RV site (again) at Shady Rest RV park.  Next morning we drove to Bowdoin NWR and slowly drove the 15 mile auto tour.
Baby Muskrat

Mama Muskrat hauling food to den

Marbled Godwit stirring up food

Sunset over the Sage




One bird that was on our target list was the Greater Sage Grouse.  We found a likely location from the Montana bird hotline.   So we drove south to Round Up and east to Ingomar (looked like an old west ghost town).  We were hoping for 1 or 2 sightings, by the time we left the area we had 47 sightings.  Amazing!!  We camped on the open gravel road in the middle of the sage and open range.  The cattle didn't know what to make of a motorhome in their "pasture".
Large Greater Sage Grouse ( 28 inches )

Where is the pot of gold?  In the sage!


American Dipper 



We had one more day before we were to arrive in Livingston, so we decided to go up over Bear Tooth Pass and the roads of Northern Yellowstone National Park.  We camped south of Red Lodge and found American Dipper, Stellar's Jays, Mountain Chickadees and Red Crossbills and in the morning heard a Northern Pygmy Owl.
Douglas Fir cones

Cirques at the top of Bear Tooth Pass



Near the summit of 10,947 feet we found a flock of Black Rosy Finches, a Mountain Goat and many Am. Pipits, Horned Larks, Clark's Nutcrackers, and a Pika.
Black Rosy Finch

Mountain Goat

Pika




We are now in Livingston, about a mile from Ty's brother's home.  We plan on a great month of visiting with family and exploring the area.

Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Wisconsin into Minnesota




After a great visit in Green Bay, it was time for a short trip to the Nicolet National Forest by Three Lakes.  We camped by the Pine River (pictured) and slowly rode the forest roads listening for the northern birds.
Red-breasted Nuthatch

Evening Grosbeaks in Alvin

Ovenbird

Common White-tail Dragonfly




We needed to go back to Madison for some warranty work on our new RV "home" at Camping World.  So we took in a movie "Star Trek Beyond" with Troy & Carmen, and a great visit over lunch - planning another adventure to Costa Rica in Spring.
Ruddy Duck near Madison

Twelve-spotted Dragonfly



Thinking we were a-okay to travel northwest, we headed out for Crex Meadows.  We spent the night listening to Sandhill Cranes, Trumpeter Swans and Whip-poor-wills.
Red-necked Grebe - Crex Meadows

Sunrise at Crex Meadows

Porcupine being shy 



We were almost past Duluth and the refrigerator  is out again.  Back to an RV service place, parts ordered, waiting again.....


While waiting drove to the Sax-Zim Bog and found many Boreal birds:  Black-backed Woodpecker, White-winged Crossbills, Pine Siskins, more Evening Grosbeaks, Boreal Chickadees, and Black-billed Magpies.  Also found a Black Bear, a Timber Wolf, a Porcupine, 2 Skunks and a Long-tailed Weasel.  
White-winged Crossbill getting grit

Wood Frog

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Dancing Skunks



Just before dark, American Woodcocks came and landed right in front of the RV.  Nice show!!  But too dark for photos.
Northern Leopard Frog

Large-leafed Lupine





We spent the last week at Ogston's RV Park just northwest of Duluth waiting for parts.  Obviously not going to happen in our time frame getting to Montana so we are heading to Winnebago in Forest City, Iowa hoping they can help us.

God is teaching us patience, hopefully.
We try to keep things in perspective as people all over this nation are facing much worse things than a broken refrigerator.
Our prayers are with all those who have lost their homes to fire and floods.

Ty & Ida Baumann

Common Loon at Ogston's Lake



Snowshoe Hare in Summer finery 

Baby Robins get some worms

Lake at Ogston's RV Park