Tag: Montana

Like Music

On By Mike and Christy10 Comments

Like_music_001A field of flowers like notes on a staff creating a not only a sight but filling the ears with a harmonious sound.

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There are indeed times when the wildflowers sing. Like music, your favorite music.

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A feast for the ears as well as the eyes.

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Hey “Tiny”

On By Mike and Christy14 Comments

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Getting face-to-face with a male Calliope Hummingbird who we  affectionately call  “Tiny”.

As in…… hey, Tiny is here, when we see them perched in the trees or at the hummingbird feeders.

Calliopes are smallest bird around yet unmatched in energy, spunk and attitude and this guy was no exception especially.  Especially on attitude.

Named after Calliope the muse of eloquence and epic poetry “Tiny” is poetry indeed.

Variations

On By Mike and Christy2 Comments

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Seeing variations on a theme along the trails we hike. Similar shapes yet different colors on fully display in white, yellow and purple. Each color selected over time to keep the wildflowers flowing, bees buzzing and the forest just that much more beautiful.

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Nature in action.

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Along the edge of the pond

On By Mike and Christy4 Comments

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Frogs and Toads along the edge of the pond. Us looking at them. Them looking at us.

On that day we walked along the edge and counted eight frogs looking up enjoying an summer day. This little guy was especially curious and we spent a bit of time staring into each others eyes.

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Next we came upon this Western Toad looking a bit cranky so just a quick hello and we moved along the edge until we came upon another toad.

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This guys was a bit less cranky but still with that full toad personality on display…”leave me alone I’m catching bugs can’t you see. ”

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And we weren’t the only ones staring at the wildlife that day as these two little frogs were having quite a stare down upon a small rock.

Happy Friday and perhaps you can spend a bit of time along the edge of a pond this weekend.

Red-naped Sapsucker

On By Mike and ChristyLeave a comment

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A Red-naped Sapsucker appeared out of the aspen forest to perch on the shrubs for just a moment before flying off into the forest.

“Red-naped Sapsucker nest holes make good homes for other species. Many species that nest in holes don’t have a specialized bill needed to carve out their own home, including Mountain Bluebirds, nuthatches, and chickadees. The small holes excavated by sapsuckers provide safe places for smaller hole-nesting birds to nest.“1

Reference:

  1. All about birds: Red-naped Sapsucker.

Remembering Bunnyville

On By Mike and Christy12 Comments

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For each of the last several years there has been a place in a field close to home that we dubbed Bunnyville. Home to a family, or perhaps families, of Mountain Cottontail rabbits.

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Each spring and summer a new batch of bunnies would appear like clockwork and inhabit the flower filled field and forest edges nearby.

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However this year we are Bunnyless! Predation by a cast of characters which include the Ermine, Golden Eagles, Bobcat, Coyote, and Foxes over the previous winter appear to decimated the Rabbit population in our area.

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It is a strange thing to experience a summer without out the rabbits although the Penstemon in are garden are relived. Yet a summer without baby bunnies of groups of teenage rabbits frolicking in the fields is a stage thing indeed.

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The grasses a growing longer without the natural lawnmowers….

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They always put a smile on our face and it is sad to realize the sun may have set on Bunnyville.  There is always hope the rabbits will return after all it only takes a couple.

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Wishing you a wonderful weekend and here’s to remembering Bunnyville.