On 9 Jul 2001, SHYPOKEGM at aol.com wrote:

> I'll be in western Mt.(as far east as Lewistown, The Missouri
> Breaks,
> Charles M. Russell N.W.R.) next week and would appreciate any and all
> info. re. great birding sights/sites.

I was near the Missouri Breaks June 25 - 27, specifically the
Missouri River bottoms (Bell Bottoms, Jones Island, White Bottoms,
and Manning Bottoms) from US 191 east about 12 miles, and up on Bell
Ridge, and was staying at the James Kipp Recreational Area
campground. The CMR people I talked with told me that the 2-year
eastern Montana drought they're in has adversely affected even the
riparian bird life. Stop in at the Sand Creek CMR station for maps
and guides if you don't already them, or can't get them at the
Lewistown CMR headquarters.

Here's my observation summary for that area, but don't take the low
number of species as a discouragement. When I go out I tend to pay
more attention to bird - habitat relationships than I do in running
up a list.

Eared Grebe on Missouri River
American White Pelican in flight down Missouri River
Ring-necked Pheasant in grass on bottoms
Killdeer on exposed channel bed
California Gull on and over Missouri River
Mourning Dove commonly heard and seen occasionally
Red-shafted Flicker in open woodland
Yellow-shafted Flicker in open woodland
Western Wood-Pewee in open woodland
Western Kingbird in open woodland and prairie
Eastern Kingbird in open woodland
Black-billed Magpie on Bell Ridge
Common Raven on Bell Ridge
Cliff Swallow over Missouri River
Rock Wren in bridge abutment rip rap
American Robin in open woodland
Gray Catbird in riparian brush
Yellow Warbler in riparian brush
Common Yellowthroat in riparian brush
Chipping Sparrow in riparian brush
Lark Sparrow on short grass ? brush prairie
Western Meadowlark on short grass ? brush prairie
Common Grackle in riparian brush
Bullock?s Oriole in riparian brush
American Goldfinch in riparian brush

Have a good trip!

Doug

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Douglas Canning
Olympia, Washington
dcanning at nisquallyestuary.org
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