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

Day Trips from Livingston, MT

 

High up in the Bridger Mountains where Ty tagged along on a Dusky Grouse 

hunting trip with Daryl and friend John.

Moss covered trees

Old stump points heavenward.

Snow Berry - good grouse food

Canada Jay, new bird for the year!

Pishing brought it in closer

Trip south to Yellowstone Park, temperature 19 degrees

Riverside geysers steam 

Yellowstone River Gorge downstream of the falls

Yellowstone cliffs rise high above the river

Road followed the river for many miles.  Now closed for winter.

Lone coyote crosses the grassland

Grizzly Bear feeding up for hibernation

Very big bear, slowed down traffic to a standstill

A ride down Divide Road, south of Livingston, produced large stand of Juniper Trees

Loaded with berries and had attracted many birds, Am. Robins, Cassin's Finch,

Clark's Nutcrackers and as we had hoped......

A beautiful song caught our attention.

Townsend's Solitaire

Checking us out, then resumed singing

We think there were over 25 Solitaires in this small area.

We will return to see if the birds overwinter.

Farther down the very bumpy gravel road to Trail Creek Rd. we saw in the distance Chimney Rock

One last Mountain Bluebird that didn't head south yet.

Enjoying the golden yellow leaves of the Aspen which will fall soon

Another trip out Swingley Road east found a herd of 16 Pronghorn Antelope

They headed up the hill to the cattle watering tank for a drink

Pronghorn Buck with some of the largest horns we've seen

He leads his harem back down the hill.

Common Raven

Back home at the feeder, a Black-billed Magpie displays iridescent feathers

White-crowned Sparrow returns 

House Finch numbers declining

White-tailed Deer, one of 11 visit daily eating boxelder leaves 

checking bird seed under feeders and drinking out of our bird bath.

Younger buck on left sizing up competion

Let's do a little jousting!

Bigger buck wins!  Third buck says "maybe next year"

Checking back on our cemetery Great Horned Owls

One alert and one sleeping.

It seems this may be our last day of Autumn.

Ten to eighteem inches of snow will arrive in the mountains in the next 24 hours.

❤️ Love & Prayers 🙏 

Ty & Ida Baumann