Enjoying a bit of afternoon sunlight a Bull Elk wandered slowly by.
Tag: Montana
Afternoon Stroll
A stroll up the trail on a November afternoon. Will it be warm will it be cold, sunny or cloudy? Probably all of the above.
The trail was covered with a light layer of snow yet the creek flowed freely.
Mountain Ash berries glowing a brilliant orange seem to scream “hey birds…what are you waiting for.”
Temperatures warmed along the way as icicles glued to moss began to thaw.
…and what started a cloudy day become much less so on a slow and quiet afternoon stroll.
Little Bear
We watched as this little Black bear foraged through the forest nimbley picking Oregon Grape Berries. We did not know Bears ate these little berries but given most of the Choke Cheery bushes had been picked clean this little bear needed to find a few last meals before they retired for the winter and Oregon grape was on the menu that evening.
The first graders
These kids made it through kindergarten and are now on to first grade. Elk and mule deer that were only Fawns and calves just a short time ago are heading into winter as the first snows have hit the ground.
A young mule deer wondering what this white stuff is all about.
An elk calf ponders their next move just a short time ago when the plants still were rich with green.
Perhaps a few leaves from this wild rose will do.
Good luck kids and we hope you make it to second grade next spring.
Happy weekend to all.
One last look
This year Chippy was a constant companion around the yard. Darting back and forth and to and fro collecting morsels to munch on and them finding the perfect perch to munch them on. We don’t see much of this guy as the temperatures cool and the flakes begin to fly so one last look was in order.
The fruits of their labor
Working hard from spring through summer the plants have done their thing. Now all that hard work is proudly on display.
The Choke Cherries have ripened and will provide food for bears and birds and even a human or two.
The Oregon Grape has produced berries of purple-blue that will help feed the grouse and pheasants as well as waxwings.
The wild rose has a a tough go of it as these bushes are a favorite food of deer. These Rose Hips were hanging high on the only branch not trimmed low to the ground by a local family of deer. A mother Mule Deer and her two fawns can really make quick work of a rose bush.
The snowberry bushes are numerous and cover the forest understory. This year they have done well and the berries will provide food for songbirds, game birds and many small mammals as winter rolls into town.
The plants have been busy and the fruits of their labor show.
Whispering
Dramatic skies contrast with gentle golden grasses whispering change is on the way.
Hey Chippy!
Hey Chip, Chipmunk that is.
What you doing up high in that tree?
Although we see Chipmunks in trees frequently it is always seems surprising and a good surprise at that.
Seeing time
Colors and textures telling time.
Time measured on a bigger scale.
Time without time.
A new one.
It is always fun to see a new one. Here are two views of a new and interesting looking insect which we think to be a bee but could well be a fly. It smaller than a honey bee, has long antennae, a hairy body like a bee and interesting orange wings. This was the only one like this we have encountered and is not shown in the guide to local bees making me think it may be a bee-fly mimic.
Yes, it is indeed fun to encounter a new species of any kind to reinforce just how wonderful the diversity of life on our planet.
Thanks for everyones help in identification of this insect. Looks to be a Hornet-Moth.
nature has no boss 
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