Fall is here and it is time to fatten up. This little Chipmunk was spending their afternoon scurrying about finding and then quickly scarfing down small little nibbles along side of the trail.
Tag: Montana
Under her wing
Upon first glance there was something a bit odd, a bit unusual about this female Ruffed Grouse. She just seemed a bit bigger, a bit puffed out compared to other females we have seen. It didn’t take long to figure out what was going on as you can only keep a clutch of fidgety Ruffed Grouse chicks still and under wraps for so long.
At first these little guys were just peeking out from under Mom’s wing a little cautious but ever so curious.
Yet within a minute or two they began to emerge from under cover.
Then in the blink of an eye they were darting out and into the tall grasses in search of a meal and quickly disappearing from sight.
We counted six little grouse emerge from under mom’s wings that morning. Each darting off into the cover of the grasses and the whole gang disappearing just as quick as they appeared.
Wings of August
With wings tattered and torn a Fritillary takes a sip of nectar on the coneflowers. Those tattered wings sure feel like a metaphor for the month that has passed.
We don’t know about you but we are looking forward to autumn this year.
When the chokecherries are ripe.
It was bound to happen.
Just as the chokecherries become ripe the Black Bears in the area make themselves just a bit more conspicuous.
This Bear sure looks like the little bear who was roaming the neighborhood last chokecherry season but all grown up.
It is sure nice seeing them if it is only an infrequent visit every now and again.
Shady rest
The green grasses and fields of wildflowers of summer have long turned to brown yet the heat seems to have remained as a mule deer doe finds a bit of a shady rest under a lonesome juniper tree.
Still Summer
Alas, while most of the summers wildflowers have come and gone there is still a bit of color to be found. The Dotted Gayfeather have done well this year and are in full bloom in the fields and along the roadside near our home and it looks like other besides ourselves are enjoying them as a little Skipper Butterfly enjoys a late summers sip of nectar.
Orobanche uniflora
I can’t say it better than it is stated in this NY Times article “There’s simply no way to talk about the beauty of Orobanche uniflora without raising a lot of eyebrows.”
Commonly called Naked Broomrape or sometimes Flowered Cancer Root this wonderful flower with unflattering common names was a new one to us when we came across it in meadow on a recent hike.
It is a short leafless plant unable to photosynthsize thus gaining it’s nutrients by parasitism. Often using sedum, saxifrages and asters as a host plant. Typically growing only up to 3 inches tall we found this cluster buried deep in the grass.
It is a beautiful little flower and very unique to say the least.
In the fir: American Goldfinch
This summer a family of American Goldfinches has made their home in the fir trees nearby. Many a day have been brightened by their singing and the flight call as they move from treetop to treetop. A few weeks back we watched this male Goldfinch searching the ends of the branches in a tree with abundant fresh growth.
The trees were teaming with small caterpillars and this guy looks to have found a nice meal that afternoon.
Meal devoured and a victory pose well struck.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Common Wood-nymph: Cercyonis pegala
I wonder if this beautiful butterfly we have named the Common Wood-nymph calls us the Common-Humans?
In the forest
A quiet walk on a summers day.
Where shapes of flowers and the textures of the forest were combined.
Formed the memory of that day.
nature has no boss 
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