Merry Christmas 2024

 

Wishing you a blessed Christmas

Celebrating Jesus' birth.

God sent His Son to save;

To those throughout the earth.

This Christmas will be different

Snowy mountains instead of palm trees

No more RVing - we've settled down

In Montana, we hope we will not freeze.

It's just like starting over

Like in 1970 when we first wed

Now we've retired from retirement

Following where we felt God led.

This year started in South Texas

Volunteering at the Birding Center

With South Padre Island's tropical feel

And birds everywhere as you enter.

Roseate Spoonbills

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

In March, vounteering for Hawk Watch

At Bentsen Rio Grande State Park

And April, Alabama's Dauphin Island

Birding from morning till dark.

Harris's Hawk

Swainson's Hawk

Swallow-tailed Kite

Shell Mound - Dauphin Island

Summer Tanager

Audubon Trail

Blue Ridge Mountains

A detour northeast to Virginia

Fun with friends for a week and day,

Then west to Wisconsin with one other stop

To see friends in Indiana on the way.

Azelias along the Blue Ridge

Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary waterfalls

This would be our last days in Wisconsin

From Madison to Green Bay and back.

May migration at the Wildlife Sanctuary,

Saying "Good-bye" to family, friends and 'The Pack'.

Sandhill Cranes with colts

Canada Goose with goslings

Then driving west to Montana,

And to our "retirement home"

A condo in Northern Livingston

So nice!  No more to roam.

We still take occasional drives

To find local wildlife and birds.

Majestic mountains all around-

Their beauty leaves you without words.

Our new Bronco Sport gets us all over.

Bison at Yellowstone NP

Neighboorhood White-tailed Buck

Pika on the summit of Beartooth Pass

Dusky Grouse on Mill Creek Road

Clark's Nutcracker

Long-billed Curlew

Cinnamon Black Bear

American Dipper

Pinyon Jay

Bighorn Sheep at Corwin Springs

Troy & Carmen are 1,000 miles to the east,

Travis & Tina the same southwest

From now on they'll have to come here

To visit their parent's new "nest".

Troy & Travis

We are blessed to have family so near,

Daryl & Vicki are just four miles away.

We love sharing meals, some work & the dog,

Playing games and church every Sunday.

Vicki, Daryl & Toby

Our prayers are with you,

Those both far and near.

May your Christmas be joyous

All throughout the New Year!

❤️ Love & Prayers 🙏 

Ty & Ida Baumann

tynida@gmail.com

Winter has arrived

Winter arrives to the mountains first.

It's hunting season so the deer are consentrated in the city limits.

High total was 97 in this grain field.

This doe is seen regularly - note the unusual antlers still in velvett.

One of the neighborhood bucks high jumps fence.

Olympic high vault successful

Another buck at the neighborhood park

First heavy snowfall reaches the valley floor of Livingston

This buck stopped to pose for his picture

Eurasian Collared Doves feed up before the snow covers the feeders

Black-billed Magpies love our homemade suet.

Pinyon Jays have migrated south, we miss them.

Trees wearing a mantle of snow

Merlin in the snow storm

Eight Robins are still here but probably not for long.

The first of seven Rough-legged Hawks have arrived from Northern Canada

New bird for the year - Rough-legged Hawk

Time to go hunt for mice

A brief stop at Sacajawea Park, we found this smaller Cackling Goose grazing with Canada Geese

Our first trip to Pine Creek Trail, we had snow on the road as we reached the 6,000 foot level which was a good opportunity to try out the GOAT (Go Over All Terrain) mode on the Bronco.

Steep canyon walls towered 600 feet above the trail

Pine Creek, low water time but will rush with snow melt in the Spring

Waterfall is a mile and half up the meandering ice covered and slippery trail, 

Ty did this one on his own as I watched for birds in the parking lot.

I got a Steller's Jay, but Ty didn't.

The Waterfall is the hiker's favorite trail, with large numbers of people visting in the warmer months

Snow covered Mountain Ash

We wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving, being grateful for all God has given us.

❤️  Love & Prayers 🙏 

Ty & Ida Baumann

 

More Autumn rides near Livingston, MT

 

Prominent Autumn leaf color in Montana is gold and yellow.

Snow is falling on the mountains and getting lower each snowfall.

Ridge along the Crazy Mountains

A ride south to Tom Miner Basin produced some Mountain Chickadees

Mama Grizzly and two cubs were digging and eating grass roots

Pronghorn Antelope resting along Old Yellowstone Road

Higher elevation snows were pushing Elk herds to lower ground.   We saw about 400 on the distant hillside.

We then drove over to Dailey Lake, watching the wind driven waves seeing 17 species of waterfowl.

Hundreds of American Coot were trying to take shelterr out of the wind and waves.

Across the lake were 155 Tundra Swans, we were pleased to see them not knowing if we would ever see them away from Wisconsin.

Nice addition to our yearly bird list, the Swans were number 417.

South of Dailey Lake, a few Cottonwoods and Aspen holding on to their leaves

Flooded ditch on Six Mile Creek Road suggested there were Beaver responsible.

One more chew - Timber!!

Traveling East River Road we saw a huge flock of Sandhill Cranes

Not sure how long they will stay.

Two Cranes closer to home.

Canada Geese are feeding in recently cut grain field near by

Seventy five deer congregate in the city limits as hunting season has started.

Our Pinyon Jays have become regular visitors to our feeders.

Maple trees are uncommon in Montana

Leaves are falling fast and will soon be down.

❤️  Love & Prayers 🙏 

Ty & Ida Baumann