Monday, May 5, 2025

Montana Spring Migration

 

Migration Hot Spot is about 30 miles north of Livingston
 and worth the trip several times to see whats moving north.
Cottonwood Reservoir just north of Wilsall

Golden Eagle also interested in the migrating birds and emerging rodents.

Favorite perching area for this Golden Eagle, high advantage point overlooking the reservoir.

Variety of ducks find this a good resting and feeding area.
N. Pintails, Am. Wigeon, Mallards, Green-winged Teal and Gadwall.

Ring-necked Ducks

Redheads

Greater Yellowlegs

American Pitpit

Pussywillow

Perched Eagles and other raptors are of little concern to the waterfowl

Cinnamon Teal

Clark's Grebe

Wilson's Phalarope

Over 140 American Avocets

Avocets flushed by Bald Eagles

White-faced Ibis also flushed

American White Pelicans weren't even phased by the eagles.

Cinnamon Teal came in even closer to us in pretty good numbers.

Black-necked Stilt

Weekly check on the Canada Geese nesting in the old Eagle's nest.

East of Livingston, we observed a pair of Northern Goshawk

Checking out preferred forest habitat for nesting.

We encountered a large herd of migrating Elk moving from winter feeding area to the higher mountains.

Sunrise from "home" in Livingston

Our feeders attrack the incoming Common Grackles....

as well as White-crowned Sparrows.

White-crowned Sparrow checking out our feeder.

Black-billed Magpie taking a ride.

Long-billed Curlews in a nearby field, blending in.

Red Fox running with prey back to den.


Weather is like a roller coaster here.  Eighty degrees yesterday but wintry mix expected today.

❤️ Love & Prayers 🙏🏽
Ty & Ida Baumann





























































Sunday, April 13, 2025

Cottonwood Lake north to Yellowstone Park south

 

Spring is in the air!  Livingston sunrise.

Western Meadowlark is back singing his melodious song.

Competition - American Robin

Mountain Bluebird checking out nestbox

Many returned on the same day.

Townsend's Solitaire takes off!
Snow Geese headed north

Exceptionally light Eurasian Collared-Dove coming to feeder

Red-winged Blackbird males have arrived

Canada Goose incubating 35 feet up in former Eagle's nesst

Cottonwood Lake north of Wilsall has thawed and draws lots of waterfowl.


Pair of Bald Eagles perched across from lake

Three Bald Eagles Come over to harrass the ducks

Canvasback


Common Merganser pair

Common Goldeneye pair

Incubating Bald Eagle (head left of center). Black-billed Magpies - uninvited guests

Elk herd starting Spring molt

Road trip to Yellowstone National Park
Started out at 24 degrees in Lamar Valley,  end of 13 hour trip it was 65.

Hundreds of Bison wandered the valley

At least this bull wasn't blocking the roadway

Barrow's Goldeneye drake in Lamar River

Stretching to impress the females

A special treat, a Black Bear den with two cubs.
Sow watches cubs carefully as they want to explore outside.

Cub number 1 

Cub number 2

Coyote exploring - hunting for food


We saw four different coyotes that morning.


Sandhill Cranes on rock strewn foothill

Pronghorn Antelope herd

Osprey returns to nest, perched at end of white limb on the right. (Zoom in)

Ground Squirrel out of winter den

Shaggy Bighorn sheep in the molt

Horned Lark claims property at Dailey Lake

Another Osprey returned to it's nest

April weather is definetly unpredictable, Summer? Spring? Winter again?  All in one week!

Wishing you all a Blessed Easter (Resurrection Day).
Jesus is alive!

❤️ Love & Prayers,🙏🏽
Ty & Ida Baumann