Somewhat sluggish end to the birding year. Although, 25% of the birds ID’ed were lifers!
Despite the end of the year running a bit slowly, the year was quite good; 205 total species ID’ed. November came in cold and snowy. It was the 8th coldest November on record in Helena. It was also very snowy. As a result, I was not able to get out very far afield to see if any birds were active. When the cold subsided for a few days in December, the snow and ice was still making it hard to get out and about and then the real cold hit.
We spent about a week in the -30 air temp range. The Holiday week was finally a bit warmer and I was able to get out and find that very, very little was moving.
September- 3 species
Lewis’ Woodpecker
Lesser Yellowlegs
Williamson’s Sapsucker
October- 3 species
American Pipit
Lapland Longspur
Pomarine Jaeger*
November- 1 species
Bonaparte’s Gull*
December- 1 species
Ferruginous Hawk
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