White-crowned Sparrows back in motion

This morning, I check the migration in progress at my neighbors vegetable garden. It was a little slow on variety, only one warbler (Orange-crowned) but the first flock of White-crowned Sparrows has arrived. About a half-dozen birds, mostly adults of the "Gambel's" race, the taiga subspecies that just passes through here, on their way north or south.

It's quite interesting to look at all the different subspecies of various birds in the area. With the amazing Pine Grosbeak invasion we had last winter, I had the chance to get well accustom to the bird, and even look at which subspecies we had. Also, take a look at the subspecies of American Robins. There is about 7 or so distinct subspecies, and they, like all birds, stray from home every now and then. I have found a few Pacific robins here this spring.

Neighbors Corn Photo Essay Thing

Birding the local Patch - the passerine migration begins

Last year, from now until November, I birded my neighbors vegetable garden. There yard is the BEST magnet for migrating songbirds I have EVER seen! 9 species of warblers and 11 species of sparrows in one season in one place, and all three Zonotrichria sparrows (white-crowned, white-throated, Harris's) in one binocular view! The migration has just started and only a few migrants are trickling through.

Only Savannah, and Chipping Sparrows were here, but I did have the first large sparrow of the season. Either Song, Fox, or a zonotrichia sparrow. I know that is a wide range of suspects, but all I saw was a flash of a large, dark sparrow drop into the acre of corn, and one chip note.

4 warblers today, MacGillivray's, Wislon's, Orange-crowned, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Also a family of Lazuli Buntings, and Blue Jays were about. A few odd, or uncommons today; Red-naped Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker and Cooper's Hawk. Nice finds.

I snapped a few pictures, but I know that later in the season when the birds pick up, I will get some more, and better shots.

Pine Siskin in the corn
Really cool clouds today

Savannah Sparrow in the corn

First day of the HAWKWATCH

September and much of October is hawkwatching season here int the Flathead. Dan and Susannah Casey found this site in 2007, and in 2008 we started to extensively watching the site, and counting hawks. August 30th this year was the first day data from the site was collected. I think in all we got like 30 birds, and most where Cooper's Hawks. A few Golden Eagles, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Red-taileds, and a Harrier made up the rest.

Last year I came up 8 or so times, and was up for the biggest day last year, 163 birds in a day. That was fantastic!!! I have been looking forward to the hawkwatch since the last time I was up last year. Now I just need to get back up there again!

View from half way up the trail to the ridge or so. Nice to look out over the valley floor.

On the way up, we ran into several Dusky Grouse, including this young bird

View from atop the ridge, now just a quarter mile walk along the ridge top to the left to reach the site

At the site, there were 3 more Dusky Grouse, and they posed nicely, and I managed to get a few nice shots.

View looking north, the direction you should look to spot hawks comming down the ridge.

Again, like in Logan Pass, there was a Golden-mantled Ground-Squirrel running around the site.

Common Raven

Looking back southwest along the ridge we came.

Birding lacking on the birds, but large on the mammals. . . .

Honestly it has been so long since this trip, I can't remember exactly when it was, but my family and I went up to Logan Pass, in Glasier National Park, which is only 30 minutes or so from my house by car. I was hoping to see some good birds, and I did get to see a few American Pipits, White-crowned Sparrows, and 2 Gray-crowned Rosefinches. The most common lifeform at Logan Pass continues to be mammailian.

Family of Mountain Goats are onmipresent, and very tame.

Columbian Ground-Squirrel; very common around Flathead Valley, and in the high alpine areas the rim the valley.

View from the top of the Logan Pass boardwalk/trail. . . . . gorgeous, eh?

45 degree turn to the right form the last picture.

Next three shots are of my 2 favorite rodent alive in MT. The first I have only seen once, and coinsidentaly, I saw it at the same place. My first favorite rodent is the Pika, my second is this litttle cutie, the Golden-mantled Ground-Squirrel.

One big billy Mountain Goat

In the visitor center, I got a lifer! White-tailed Ptarmigan!!! To bad it was taxidermied.

On our way home, on the east side of the park, we came across this chocolate- Black Bear!! Woo hoo!!!

The end!!