July Update

We’ve done several terrific bio-blitzes this month. Our first was a quick day trip to the fringes of Lewis and Clark County on July 4th to find a Lark Bunting. Then, July 10th to Yaak to explore fens where we hoped to see sundews; July 18th to the southern edge of the Scapegoat Wilderness up Copper Creek outside Lincoln for more fen action; and then on July 27th and 28th to Yellowstone National Park to catch some higher-elevation flowers and open-country birds.

Despite striking out on the Copper Creek fen action, we’ve been quite successful: three new year birds (and one new life bird- the Lark Bunting), eleven new butterflies (five lifers), and 48 species of wildflowers in July (21 of which were lifers), including two of the three sundew species found in Montana.

All told, we’ve logged a touch over 52 miles in July on trails, with about 32 of that specifically to see flowers or birds. Finding butterflies is just icing on the cake. July is almost over, but I think we might still be able to add a couple more species to the various lists.

Our blitz into Yellowstone was extraordinary. While we didn’t find wolves, moose, or bears, we did find a nice little badger and loads of little bison decked out in their still somewhat reddish coats. Late July is the middle of the bison rut, and watching the futile efforts of the males as they worked to woo the females was highly entertaining.

Each blitz had a destination, but we maintained our typical “getting there is half the fun” attitude that keeps life enjoyable. We stuck to backroads as often as possible, and that choice allowed us to see three Golden Eagles in a single day, as well as experience a wide variety of habitats along the way.

Seeing those Golden Eagles, plus Ferruginous Hawks, Prairie Falcons, Double-crested Cormorants, Sharp-tailed Grouse, American White Pelicans, Canada Jays, Trumpeter Swans, and forty-two other bird species in a single 24-hour period in late July was refreshing.

This past month has been spectacular. Montana (and our nearby neighbor, YNP) is a dreamland for anyone with a naturalist mindset.