Last trips to the mountains before snow

 

Ermine or Stoat - weasel family member in full winter coat.

Rodent hunting at Tom Miner Campground.

This is our first encounter with the ermine, what a treat!

Crossing the cattleguard, ducking in and out and then running into 

the brush.

Mountain Chickadee

Clark's Nutcracker feeding on Pinyon Pine Nuts

Young Bull Moose in willows at Tom Miner Basin

Migrating Elk herd descending into lower elevation grasslands

Coyote rodent hunting

Great Horned Owl sleeping

Steller's Jay (lower left). Canada Jay on top.

Canada Jay in Crazy Mountains

Corwin Springs Bighorn Ewes and lambs

Bighorn Rams resting together down the road.

Rams challenging and doing some head butting.

Bison herd in the snow at Yellowstone National Park

Black Bear feeding up before hibernation

This bear was just north of Livingston city limits

Two Bull Moose on 89 north of the bear

Very large shovel rack 

Bridger Mountains from Battle Ridge

Bridger Mountains from Cottonwood Reservoir

Bison herd near Wilsall

Townsend's Solitaire at Mill Creek

Migrating Tundra Swans resting on Dailey Lake south of town,

A variety of ducks, grebes and American Coot filled the lake.

 

Tundra Swans lifting off heading to Chesapeak Bay on the east coast.

Pinyon Jays on Fleshman Creek Road feeding on pine nuts

Livingston Sunrise

White-crowned Sparows at our feeders

 

Common Raven also visiting our feeder

Pair of Ravens above our suet feeders

Black-billed Magpies - sometimes 7 at  time.

Pronghorn Antilope herd grazing at neighbor's ranch

Our Vixon Red Fox pays return visit to den area

First migrating Snow Geese 

Here comes the second flock

Largest White-tail Buck of the 130 deer counted in our neighborhood.

Our favorite doe, stays nearby the feeder.

Auroras light show from Veteran's Day!

Pictures taken by our neighbor Michael Steinmetz

who we thank for sharing with us.

A wonderful display of God's Creation.

We hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

❤️ Love & Prayers 🙏🏽

Ty & Ida Baumann

Autumn wildlife adventures around Livingston

 

Friendly Red Fox at the Tom Miner Campground 

checking out the picnic tables at the campsites to see if there are any 

leftovers.  With rain and 36 degrees, there were no campers.

Sorry, we have nothing for you, but you sure are cute!

Such a long tail you have!

After seeing 5 Grizzly Bears in the distance, we came upon these three very close to the road.

Large sow was digging in the field for grass roots and rodents

Two large cubs follow her every move, a semi truck came by and they were very alert.

Once the truck was gone they went back to digging.

Sow kept a watchful eye on the photographers

On the homefront, this Bull Moose, appeared two blocks from our house.

The Moose chased two deer (upper right) and the cattle stampeded after the Moose.

Golden Cottonwood Trees quickly dropping their leaves

Our backyard guests, graze and rest, plus steal from our birdfeeder.

Our neighborhood Bucks are challenging each other

It takes two to tangle, two more combatants wait in the wings (tag team)

Doe unimpressed and sticks out tongue at the display

Chestnut Tree beautiful red color

Chestnut husks dropping the nuts

Northern  (Red-shafted) Flicker

Before dawn we headed north to Cottonwood Reservior

Sunrise over the Crazy Mountains

God's creative light on the clouds

Looking west, the sun shone on the Bridger Mountains

Later in the morning, the rugged bare Bridgers

Pronghorn Antelope Buck

Antelope herd on full alert in response to barking Coyote Pack

Double Crested Cormorant will be leaving soon

Migrating American Pipits feeding on insects along washed up debris

Two juvenile Bald Eagles perched near the water

Golden Eagle near ranch by a deer carcass 

A stop at Battle Ridge Campground, produced Ruffed Grouse.

Another Grouse comes out on the road

A drive east on Swingley Road, we found a single Bull Elk

Clark's Nutcracker comes close to Ty's pishing...

And even closer...

Red-breasted Nuthatches ....

Also responded to pishing...

And the Black-capped Chickidee...

Dark-eyed (pink-sided) Junco...

And of course, more Pine Siskins respond

Another Ruffed Grouse, picking grit high on Brussley Road

Our first Snow of the season, huge wet flakes, covered everything but melted the next day.

The snow will stay on the high elevation mountain peaks.

Looking forward to our second Montana winter!

❤️ Love & Prayers 🙏🏽

Ty & Ida Baumann