Friday, May 23, 2025

Spring - South, North & East of Livingston, MT

 

Last snow of the season???

The snow brought in two Evening Grosbeaks to our feeders.

Had to share with the Eurasian Collared-Doves and Grackles.

A pleasant surprise to see.

Downy Woodpecker

House Finch

Wood Ducks arrived at Sacajawea Park

Gooslings (bringing back memories of the Sanctuary in Green Bay)

A trip out Willow Creek Road had new arrivals too - Upland Sandpipers

Upland Sandpiper contemplating tresspassing.

Long-billed Curlew feeding

Looking for nesting site.

Sunset over the mountains

Red-tailed Hawk 

Our first Loggerhead Shrike in Montana

Loggerhead Shrike catching insects

American Kestrel

Pronghorn Antelope buck

Early morning surprise on Tom Miner Basin Road
Male Dusky Grouse

Booming and displaying for female nearby.

Savannah Sparrow


Hundreds of Elk grazing along the road.

Cow Elk checks us out.  By noon they had all disappeared into the mountain forest.

Delighted to see a cow Moose among the willows along the streeam

And then there were two...which turned into seven individuals.

A Grizzly Bear sow with her two yearling cubs

Cubs hugging or more likely wrestling?

Mountain Chickdee

Cassin Finch males

A ride into Dailey Lake produced new arrivals, singing Marsh Wrens.

Hen Mallard rising out of the reeds.

Osprey eating large fish from the lake.

Heading east of Livingston on Swingley Road were singing Spotted Towhees.

Red-naped Sapsucker

Mule's Ears were blooming all over the hillsides.

Tall Larkspur

Alpine Astor or Mountain Crown

Numerous Vesper Sparrows on territory.

Always fun to find another Moose

She slowly meandered up the hill.

It always amazes us the variety of God's Creation that He puts in front of us.

❤️ Love & Prayers 🙏🏽
Ty & Ida Baumann
















































































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