Tag: Montana

Eared Grebes

On By Mike and Christy2 Comments

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A small group of Eared Grebes patrolling the waters on a nearby reservoir as they migrate north towards their breeding grounds. I guess it’s those cinnamon red-hot eyes that give them such an intense look as well as their alert posture but they sure look like  a tough lot to me.

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According to the All About Birds website eared Grebes spend 9-10 months of the year flightless. This is the longest period of flightlessness of any bird species capable of flight. Beautiful Birds and always a pleasure to observe.

Hidden gems

On By Mike and Christy5 Comments

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On a recent walk through sagebrush scrub and grassland we were treated to numerous hidden gems along the way. Lupines flowering amongst the grasses still mainly brown after a winters sleep.

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Shooting stars in clusters were dispersed along the way. Never a thick carpet, just a sprinkling, every now and then.

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Bluebells dangled in little clumps…

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and Penstemon light the way.

Hidden gems indeed.

Western Kingbird

On By Mike and Christy2 Comments

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The Western Kingbirds have made their return to the area gracing the fence posts and barbed wire along quiet county roads. Sallying out in search of insects then returning to their perch. Patiently waiting and intently searching for their next meal. Beautiful colors, some bright, some subtle, and a wonderful sight on a drive sown a quiet road.

 

Chippie Returns

On By Mike and Christy1 Comment

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A few weeks back we began to see the Chipmunks scurrying around the area. After spending the winter in their dens and absent from sight they are a welcome addition to the late spring-summer population of area residents. Quietly going about their business and cute as a button to boot. Welcome back Chippie.

An unassuming walk

On By Mike and Christy5 Comments

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Just the grass greening up in a landscape filled with sage and juniper. Quiet, perhaps the sounds of Meadowlarks and Sparrows singing, an unassuming landscape in a quiet place.

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Yet upon closer inspection we were provided with quite a treat. Chocolate Lily – Fritillaria atropurpurea were hidden in theses still greening grasses. 

“Chocolate lily, also called “rice root” by Indian people, has bulblets that look like grains of rice. The bulbs grow relatively close to the surface and are easily extracted. Bulbs were dug in spring (before flowering) or in summer or fall (after flowering) using a digging stick, a wooden spade, or the fingers”

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Some were on full display and added a a wonderful splash of color and gave us quite a surprise on what we thought would be a unassuming walk through an early spring landscape.

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It’s nice to have no assumptions.

References:

1.http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=PMLIL0V020

2. https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_fraf2.pdf

Western Spring Beauties:Claytonia lanceolata

On By Mike and Christy1 Comment

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This week the fields near home are full of the Western Spring Beauties. A beautiful wildflower when viewed up close but it can appear unassuming from a distance.

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Native to much of the western United States Western Spring Beauty is a short flower only growing 2-3 inches tall in our area and it begins to bloom right about the time the last patch snow has melted from the ground.

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“As the name suggests, Western springbeauty blooms in the spring, barely waiting for the snow to melt. This perennial grows from a deeply buried, spherical, underground stem; when cooked, the stem tastes like a potato.” 1

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A beautiful flower and one we always look forward to seeing each spring.

Reference:

1. Wildflower.org The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.