Hello Tweeters,
This is my second attempt to write my big trip up I took earlier.My
computer acted up .taken it in the shop,to refine my message I wrote.Here I
start from scratch,and hope I cover it close what I wrote earlier.
It was in June 1996,that Patrick and I took this trip,being inspired by Jim
Flynn who with Marv Breece visiting Montana.There had a great trip with so
many new species what we never saw.So going every summer for the last 10
years to Okanagon,we made the switch going to Montana with the help from Jim
where the best places to get all this birds.
For the last 2 years I been thinking going there again,where we had one of
the best trip ever with an all camping.We garnish than
282 species with 1 great bird who was breeding on Bowdoin NWR,the PIPING
PLOVERS on the endangered list.When than in 1996 the Manager found out that
we coming from Tacoma,he took us to the breeding grounds what was blocked
of from the public viewing.I took than close up photos of the plovers as
from the nest who had 3 Eggs.
We also got taken to the breeding grounds where the Mountain Plovers
breed.So we was certainly treated well,thanks to Patrick who spoke with this
People who than was so impressed with Patrick,since no one ever got this
treatment before.
I got all my papers from this great trip together to make sure that I
visiting all the places.I took I-90 all the way to Missoula,where I had few
Species Common Merganser, Osprey,Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle,Northern
Flicker,Barn Swallow,
Black-billed Magpie,American Crow,Common Raven,House WREN,A.Robin,Gray
CATBIRD,Cedar Waxwings,,Yellow Warbler,Common Yellowthroad, Song
Sparrow,,Red-winged Blackbird,Western Meadowlark, Bullock's Oriole, House
Finch,
House Sparrow.I stayed there overnight.
The next day 06-018 stopped on 1-90 East , for gas and I change my route to
HIGHWAY 191over Lewitown to Malta
do to still flooding on Highway 87 to Malta,WHERE I intend looking on the
Culverton Bridge looking for Gulls and the rare Least Tern we had in 1996.
It was all driving to dark,I stayed in the nice Park.
>From this point I will only write up the BIRDS what I found to be mention.
>From all the Refuges Bowdoin and Fort Peck Where the BEST AND MOST BIRDS
FOUND!!!!!!!!
Bowdoin had no birds as the Piping Plover nesting,also no Upland Sandpipers
do that the grasses are to wet.
Bowdoin is only 10 minutes to drive from Malta,All the Roads ate Auto tour
what is great.the Ducks where the most the Blue-winged Teals.Also the Eared
Grebes all in breeding plumage's where every where ( 500 )
On the road the Willet's with there young was walking on the small roadway
( One Adult Willet with 3 young blocked the way putting herself right in
front of my car,blocking me not to drive.Also there where Marbled Godwit
walking all on the road.I only saw young from Willet Wilson Phalarope and
Killdeer,But The Marbled Godwit the way there was making loud call,tell me
that there probable also having young in the nest.I only had 9 species of
Shorebirds.I saw only 1 Long-billed Curlew with 1 young.
On one Auto Tour I had 2 pairs of Brown Thrashers,
06-019 driving to Fort Peck where the camping is outstanding(there have nice
showers,you can drive the whole camping area and there have lot's of trails
with wetlands.One section was cut off do to flooding,this is in the evening
the most birds been sighted.This place was than where you finding the Brown
Thrasher every where,not so now.The Robin took over and are so aggressive.I
had a pair of Robin in my campsite who been using part of this place looking
for food for the young who was sitting in the trees This birds trying to
stop me from coming closer I saw only 4 Brown Thrasher from so many in
1996.I also visiting the big Dam who is a big attraction for the state,who
save partly the state from being lost because of the flooding.The Town of
Glasgow is still under water.Here I had on of the highlight on this trip
Adult Ferrugginous Hawk.
Driving to Medicine Lake,on the way I had my first UPLAND SANDPIPER,(there
was a breeding pair (going over the road,making loud calls )presuming there
had young ones to,Another highlight where the BAIRDS& Chestnut -colored
Longspur.
I went back to Fort Peck.Next morning going on the trail before moving on .
06 -020 Driving to Zortman what is higher elevation,on the way up I had a
Cordilleran Flycatcher (seeing and heard,the place I visiting call CAMP
CREEK,what holds a lot of rarities 1996 there we found an OVENBIRD.Anyway I
played my \my I -POD make sure what this bird sound.When I was standing on
the road a car stopped ,it was a rancher who had some many acres of
land.Standing we heard a bird,but I did never heard what this sound was.The
Rancher told me that this is a Black-billed Cuckoo,and again I played the
I-POD the bird flew out,so partly I saw the long decurved bill and the long
tail.This is a new bird for me.If I come back next year I will camp there
for view day,this place had the most birds to offer.
The most Duck Blue-winged Teals,The most Shorebirds Bowdoin (I saw 1 more
Upland Sandpiper outside 2 miles Bowdoin 1 HAD 120 SPECIES with 2.655.0
miles of driving,2 places missed CHRISTAL LAKE & Nelson RESERVOIR.
I planning to going next year again end May longer time and also going in to
North Dakota
Here are the few highlights of my trip!!!!!!!!
Black billed Cuckoo, Sprague's Pipit, Least Tern, Ferruginous Hawk, Upland
Sandpiper,Chestnut collored Longspur,Cordilleran Flycatcher, Brown
Thrasher.
I have lost over 50 photos ,not watching my camera to close all pure white.
Here are the photos I saved,but conciliation is I got lot's of photos from
1996

Here are some photos what I save (not to perfect.I THINK TAKEN THE CAMERA IN
TO THE SHOP


http://www.pbase.com/godwit

Cheers Ruth Sullivan

Tacoma,Fircrest