At home on the Range

I kicked off the month of May with a trip to one of my favorite places; the National Bison Range in Moises, Montana.  I was hoping, because of unseasonably warmer weather and lack of snow, that the long road over Red Sleep Mountain had been opened already, but it was not.  However, the short road has been extended considerably and now runs clear back to the down side of Red Sleep Mountain, allowing for more opportunities to see critters.

And what a rewarding day it was! 18 Pronghorn, 43 Bison, 22 White Tail Deer, three Coyote, one Fox and a Badger!  The coyote and fox were too far away for a decent photo, and the badger was denning very close to the road but mostly hidden in the dense brush.  A few of the Bison were wallowing in sand pits, to help get rid of winter coats and pesky insects.  I have to think it felt so good to them.

Several of the Pronghorn does looked very pregnant, and I suspect that if I were to go back in another week or two there would be a number of new fawns in the herd.

There were also numerous birds about, although not quite the variety that there will be in another week or three.  Plenty of Song Sparrows and Western Meadowlarks, the latter of which
were quite cooperative for photos.

A few Tree Swallows were occupying bluebird houses, but I did not see a single bluebird, which was surprising, as we've had them here in the valley since the end of February!

The Balsam Root, one of my favorite wildflowers, was blooming in profusion on the prairie flats, and in the bright morning sun.  At the end of the road I got out of my car to sit on one of the boulders placed around the parking area.  I was alone with the bright yellow Balsam Root, the birds, the breeze and the morning sun.  How incredibly peaceful that was - nothing more uplifting to the spirit than a quiet place to sit and become one with nature.

On the way back I saw a Hooded Merganser in  Mission Creek, the only water bird seen that morning other than Canada Geese, which were everywhere.


I stopped at the pond on the way out, and so glad I did, for not
only were the millions of turtles out sunning themselves, but there were several Cottontail Rabbits munching on the sweet spring grass beneath the juniper trees.


The best sighting at the Range that morning however, was a pair of Trumpeter Swans, which were nesting on the pond!  I've never seen one there before, let along a pair.  One had a neck collar and I'm trying to find out how to track where the bird was banded, and where it's been.

 After leaving the Range I was directed by a fellow photographer, to an old Cottonwood tree where there was a nest with Great Horned Owlets in it.  True to his word, there they were, peeking out at me from the nest.  Mom was probably nearby, sleeping soundly away from "the kids".