Wisconsin to Montana - the scenic route

 

We went from one wildlife area to another on our trip west.  First stop was Buena Vista Grasslands in Central Wisconsin.  This Sandhill Crane was incubating on her nest.  Next stop was the Nicolet Forest in Northern Wisconsin.  Then through Superior to the Sax Zim Bog north of Duluth, Minnisota.

Sandhill Cranes with twin colts

Snowshoe Hare

Broadwing Hawk at Sax Zim Bog

Northern Harrier finds a mouse in the grass

N. Harrier in flight looking for another mouse

Pink Lady's Slipper, a specialty of the Bog

White-tailed Deer with new born fawn

Great Gray Owl, we were looking one way and saw
this bird first in the rear view mirror.

He flew in even closer to the road.

Then it was into North Dakota.  Once you cross the 100th meridian, the bird species change from eastern birds to western birds.  These Western Grebes were our first sign that we had crossed over.

Ruddy Duck comes out from hiding

Ruddy takes off 

Ruddy Duck in all his splender, one of God's masterpieces

Eared Grebe

Intermediate Swainson's Hawk

He spotted something1

Yum, yum, breakfast!

Wilson's Snipe

Red-necked Grebe at LostWood NWA in North Dakota

Brewer's Blackbird

Western Meadowlark sings a very different tune than the eastern

White-tailed Jackrabbit

Our first sighting of Pronghorn Antelope

Salt crust around the lakes of drought stricken Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge

American Avocet, one of hundreds

Mate selection behavior, you'll have to ask them how this works.

Looking good in breeding plumage.

Black-necked Stilt with his "Bubble Gum" legs

Preening Time

Franklin's Gull

We slept overnight just outside the refuge and enjoyed a beautiful sunrise.

Wilson's Phalarope

White-faced Ibis, irredescent in the morning light.

Sharp-tailed Grouse stays just ahead of the RV on the auto tour

Should I keep running or just head off in the grass?

Marbled Godwit finding a nesting area in the grass

Ring-necked Pheasant

We are now official Montanans.  We got our new driver's licenses, and this is our new plate for the RV.   We think it is very appropriate with the Grizzly Bear riding a Cutthroat Trout over the Absaroka Beartooth Mountain Range just south of Livingston.

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann