What a glorious spring day in Western Montana! Got up at dark-thirty (4:00 to be exact), to head up to the Missions for some sunrise shots - which means driving up in the dark. According to NOAA, sunrise was going to be at 6:18. As I headed out onto the highway, there was a faint hint of daylight just starting to show over the mountains to the east.
I arrived at Ninepipe Wildlife Refuge at around 6:15 and headed up onto the main levee to the west of the large lake. It was quite cool near the water, and even the light breeze made it feel rather chilly - and I forgot to take my gloves... But as any hard-core photographer would do, I braved frozen fingers and shot numerous photos of the pre and post-sunrise sky over the mountains. I was not disappointed! Sunrise however, did not arrive as "scheduled". I noticed that the mountains to the south and southwest were bathed in sunlight. Guess it took a little longer for the sun to climb the high, jagged peaks of the Missions.
As I shot photo after photo, it occurred to me that even though this was one of my favorite birding and photography haunts, I had not been up here for quite some time. I began to notice more and more birds, and turned my camera from the mountains to the water in order to try and capture some of them. The Avocets were abundant near the levee this morning, and one in particular braved getting close to me for perhaps a better choice of delectible treats. They're beautiful birds, about the size of a large robin, with long, stilt-like legs and long, upcurved beaks. The reddish feathers on their head and necks make them look like they've been dipping their heads in rusty water.
There were numerous goslings about on the shore, and parent geese guarded their young fiercly from their neighbors. Grebes and ducks of many species, Great Blue Herons, Sandpipers, shorebirds that were to far away to identify, countless gulls that I can never identify, and numerous songbirds inhabited the area this morning. I relish being able to spend time alone in such a peaceful place, with no other humans around and no noise but that from the birds. By the way, have you ever noticed that a seagull colony - from a distance - sounds just like a playground full of screaming, chattering, laughing children?
Left Ninepipe at around 8:30 and headed up to the National Bison Range. Even though I figured it was probably too late to see much in the way of critters, I was in the neighborhood so thought I'd stop by. The road over Red Sleep Mountain is not open yet (damn), but the lower road has been extended quite some way, to afford a perfectly satisfying view of anything that might be wandering by. The first critter I saw was a badger alongside the road approaching the Bison Range. Thankfully it chose to head back into the grass and not in front of my car. As I entered the range, a coyote ran across the road in ahead of me with a fat ground squirrel in its mouth, meaning there are pups somewhere in the vicinity. It hurried along a fenceline and disappeared into a draw and out of sight.
The Meadowlarks were everywhere this morning - some even calling from on the ground, which (I think) is very unusual. After I don't know how long a time trying, I finally got one facing INTO the morning sun, showing off those gorgeous bright yellow breast feathers.
Western Bluebirds seemed to be perching on every fence post. This beautiful male allowed my rig to approach close enough for a decent photo before flying off to join his mate at a nesting box.
Mourning Doves were numerous as well, and called from every pine tree along the creek. These are one of my favorite birds -
I love their soulful calls.
As I drove along Mission Creek, I noticed what I first thought to be a moose crossing the creek, but as it exited the shadows I realized it was an elk. He looked a bit scruffy from shedding his winter coat, and his antlers looked to be about six or eight inches long. Hard to believe that in a few short months his rack will weigh upwards of 50 pounds or more.
And what would a trip to the Bison Range be without bison? This massive bull was grazing right alongside the road. When I stopped to take his photo, he stood there chewing grass and checking me out, then began to walk toward by vehicle, and I made a hasty retreat further on down the road!
My last stop was the pond near the picnic area to try and photograph the turtles. I was not disappointing, as there seems to be a few hundred of them inhabiting this small pond. The large rock in the middle of the pond was covered with so many turtles that you couldn't even see the rock! A few logs alongside the shore were also covered with turtles, who all slipped into the water as I walked past. Those who could not manage a spot on the large rock or one of the logs, floated near the surface with only their tiny heads poking out of the water. After hiding behind a pine tree and very slowly moving closer, these three cooperated for some nice photos, to my great satisfaction.
The weather could not have been better and the photo gods were with me. It was a perfect day!
No comments:
Post a Comment