Montana Wrap-up

 

Pronghorn Antelope near Livingston Peak

We are enjoying our rides in all different directions with

Daryl & Vicki.

Pronghorn herd with fawns along Old Yellowstone Road

Shaggy Pronghorn at Tom Brokaw's ranch

Black-billed Magpie showing true colors

Magpie taking flight

Killdeer calling it's namesake "Kill Deer"

Goat's Beard  - Flower head about to open on left and mature head 

about to shed seeds

Mule Deer pauses near pond

...And then high steps, literally prancing away

Violet-green Swallow

Common Merganser hen with brood on Shield's River

Mallard ducklings

Sweet Pea Blossoms

Common Raven 

The next pictures of Red-Shafted Flickers

Drumming on antique cement mixer

displaying red shafts

Digging for ants and grubs

Soil covered beaks

preening, often using ant formic acid to get rid of parasites

Nuptial Display

Prairie Coneflower

(Mexican Hat)

Yankee Jim Canyon - Yellowstone River

This area was under water during the June flood.

Mountain Bluebird male

Mountain Bluebird female with grasshopper heading to the nestbox.

We traveled up Tom Miner Road to 6,520 feet to look for Grizzly Bears

There are 5 bears in this photo, zoom in to find them.  

Sow and two large cubs in upper left.

Two large adults in lower right.

The two adults feeding on tall grass

Large grizzly standing on hind legs.

Horses are not paying any attention.

Bear rears up about every five minutes to see if the coast is clear.

Ty - many successful fishing trips 

With expert guide - brother Daryl.

Red Squirrel family nests in the nearby Maple Tree

Big Mama with one of four kits

Daily visits to Daryl & Vicki's feeder

Mule Deer also visit the feeder and enjoy the shade.  

Not paying any attendtion to Ty working.

Daryl, Vicki

Toby

We have had two great months with them in Livingston.

Love & Prayer's

Ty & Ida Baumann

Livingston, Montana

 

Fuzzy-tongue Beardtongue

One month down and one to go in Livingston.  We are enjoying our time with Ty's brother Daryl, his wife Vicki and their dog Toby.  We are staying at the RV Park about a mile from their house and we see each other five or six days a week.  Here are some of the flowers, birds and animals in the area.

Black-capped Chickadee from the tree above our RV site.

Crows & Magpies both nested nearby and there is a constant battle raging.

Black-billed Magpie

Young Magpie always food begging

Eurasian Collared Doves also nested right above us.

Mule Deer are always running through the neighborhood.

Western Blue Flax

Black-headed Grosbeak on neighbor's feeder

Pine Siskins are feasting on Dandilion seeds

Killdeer are everywhere in the area

Tree Swallow

Goat's Beard

House Finch

Western Meadowlark with grasshopper for juvenile

Townsend's Solitaire - a surprise find

You probably heard about the Yellowstone Park flood, 100 year event.

The Yellowstone River flows downstream 50 miles to Livingston.

This photo was taken 1 block from our RV Park where the river flowed down Highway 89.

Highway 89 North was closed to traffic because the abandoned railroad bridge was undercut by the raging water and potential collapse against the highway bridge.  Notice the rails bent like spagetti.

Sacajewea Park in Livingston was closed after sandbagging the dike.

The water rose 14.4 feet above flood stage and seeped under the bags.

Many homes in the low lying area were flooded.

Many trees succumbed to the rushing, muddy water for miles downstream

Large piles of trees and brush covered the river banks.

The water cut new channels and created new islands.

American White Pelicans were looking for places to land as the water receded.

American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts rested where sand bars appeared.

Pinyon Jays visited feeders in the foothills west of town.

White-tailed Deer on our way to church.

Oh look!  She has a fawn!

Doe leads the way with her white tail "Flag"

Paradise Valley Elk heard, over 60 head.  Lots of calves, (enlarge the photo)

Mail Osprey descends on an unleashed dog

Male with sucker that he found in the muddy river.

Three mouths to feed.

Mom passing bits of fish to young

A walk through the cemetery produced calling Great Horned Owls

Almost grown young GHO.

Red-tailed Hawk feather

Pair of Bald Eagles near nest on the river north of town.

Large Juvenile on the nest.

Golded-mantled Marmot

Wishing you a wonderful Independence Day.

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann