Seasonal changes - Our first Montana Autumn

 

Sunrise from our front door

Clouds formed a star-shaped sunrise

Our neighborhood deer, fawns are growing fast

Part of the 33 deer counted in the neighborhood

Buck surveying the cameraman

Yellowstone River rapids at Sacajawea Park

Common Mergansers  - morning stretch

Time to go fishing!

Spotted Sandpiper feeding on the rocks

Our home feeding station is attracting many birds, we were surprised with the Pinyon Jays

They now quickly empty the feeders every morning

Adult Pinyon Jay

And young of the year.

Cleaning the feeder of every last seed

A Red-shafted Flicker showing interest

He finds the suet basket just for him.

American Crow comes in to check out the party

Pine Siskins find the thistle feeder

This Siskin called in the others

We have a whole flock of Eurasian Collared  Doves

Young White-crowned Sparrow

The Black-billed Magpies are the first to arrive every morning.

Magpies like the peanuts, Eur. Collared Dove coming in for a landing

Dove waiting for the Grackle to leave

White-crowned Sparrow 

Fawn checking if there is anything left to eat

We took rides east on Swingley Road two different days

Our first high elevation snow, with more to come

Sun shining on the fields along Swingley Road

Cinnamon Black Bear on Mission Creek Road

 

Stops to look for fruit trees

And plunges in to strip fruit

Young Mule Deer compresses ears 

Mountain scene, snow clings to rock above treeline

Pair of Pronghorn Antelope

Golden Eagle, number 1, 

Is joined by Golden Eagle number 2 

Golden Eagle takes flight

Golden Eagle number 3 on our way back 

Turkeys

Ash trees are turning golden yellow

Black Bear ran across the road then stopped to rest

Eyeing us with caution

Autumn is in the air.  Very cool nights and some bright sunny days.

Hard to believe how the time flies, we are enjoying seeing God's creation.

❤️ Love & Prayers 🙏 

Ty & Ida Baumann

Northeast Yellowstone NP & Beartooth Pass

 

We arrived at Slough Creek well before dawn.  First wildlife seen were four Gray Wolves (three were black melanistic) over a mile in the background.   Looking for something closer, there were always Bison to see.

The temperature was 34 degrees and pockets of dense fog shrouded the Lamar Valley.

Herds of Bison were coming down from the higher elevations to drink in the Lamar River.

Bison cow and calf crossing the river

Single Bulls wandered the landscape away from the herds.

Barronette Mountain where Mountain Goats dwell, look for tiny, tiny white spots.

Spotting scope and lots of patience to find them is required.

Beartooth Lake - reflecting God's beauty.

At 8,000 feet there are not many birds to find

We were surprised to find a Belted Kingfisher

White-crowned Sparrows nest here.

Up to the "top of the world" above tree line were beautiful flowers.

Alpine Gentian add color to a Fall landscape.

American Pipits were abundant in this barren habitat.

Ground hugging plants displaying Autumn colors.

Yellow-bellied Marmots make their home in the rocks.

They hibernate for more months than they are awake.

Here we are at the summit of 10,950 feet, home of the Pikas

The Pika started out at about an eighth of a mile away, but..

curiousity from Ty pishing brought it closer...

And closer -stopping to nibble on some lichens.

And ended up underfoot.

Pikas collect plants all summer -  feeding off their harvest in their winter dens.

American Pipits will soon migrate to the southern U.S.

This large grassy plateau provides food for grazing Mountain Goats (center of photo)

There are 10 nannies and kids in this "close-up".

The size and magnitude of this area is amazing!  The road down with the Absaroka Maountain Range in the background.

What a beautiful day trip from "home"visiting Wyoming and Montana seeing the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.

❤️  Love & Prayers 🙏 

Ty & Ida Baumann