Category: Birding
-
Four Owl February!
I’ve been taking Obi to the Tenmile every morning at about 7am since late January. I’ve been hoping to hear, or see, a Great Horned Owl. I know from previous experience that they could be in that area, and since I had seen three species of owls, I became a little obsessed with adding a…
-
Superb Owl Weekend 2026
A superb owl weekend it was, indeed! Last evening two daughters, the Lab, and I went into the hills a bit to listen for a Northern Saw Whet Owl that had been heard by a few other folks in the last week or so. So, as the darkness descended, we found ourselves walking up the Mini-Ridge…
-
Helena Birding Spots
Whether you’re a seasoned “lister” or just starting your birding journey, the Helena Valley is a wonderful place for avian enthusiasts. To get you started, I’ve rounded up six accessible hotspots where you can hone your skills. Before you head out, keep in mind that certain “everyday companions” like Magpies, Ravens, Robins, and Mallards are…
-
January Ends – 59 Species ID’ed
It’s dark out now, and I have just one last walk with the Lab planned for the evening. There is a small chance I might hear a Great Horned Owl if the wind dies down, but barring that, January is over. It closes with a new monthly record of species seen—and a lot of effort…
-
Birding vs. Birdwatching: A Difference of Intent and Effort
Here in Helena, we are blessed with an abundance of birds. From the back porch feeders to our high ridges, birds are our nearly constant companions. Several times out in the field, I’ve had someone refer to me as a birdwatcher. I always silently bristle just a little, because I was out in a field…
-
The Montana Quintfecta: A Curious Morning at the Fairgrounds
Montana is home to five native goose species. According to the definitive book Birds of Montana (Marks, Hendricks, and Casey), the list includes the Canada, Cackling, Snow, Ross’s, and Greater White-fronted goose. While the Greater White-fronted goose is uncommon across most of the state, it is a frequent visitor to Northeast Montana during the spring migration. (A…
-
Going Well, If A Bit Odd
So, we find ourselves on January 20, 2026 with 54 species of birds ID’ed and two species of wildflowers in bloom. In addition, we found two other wildflowers close to ‘in bloom’ status. If you’re interested you can see our past efforts and progress here. Let’s talk birds first. Our goal is to get 6…
-
Off To A Good Start
The first was a full day, and while we did not see Redpolls, we did see Long-tailed ducks and a lot more. In the end, we tied last January’s number. So, For the second year running, we kick off the birding year with 43 species tracked down from Marysville to Gates of the Mountains to…
-
End of Year Wrap – 2025
By the Numbers- Steps – 5,113,235 Trail miles – 650 Paved path miles – 772 Total miles – 2,422 Birds ID’ed – 175 Wildflowers ID’ed – 159 Butterflies ID’ed – 37 Weeks in a Boot – 7 The story of 2025 Last year was interrupted by a couple of significant lifestyle changes. First, there was…
-
First Day Birding Blitz Prep
Our, now eight year old, annual New Year’s Day ritual is simple: grab the Labrador and head into the far-flung fringes of the Helena Valley. From Marysville to the Gates of the Mountains, and from Black Sandy to the Spokane Hills, and Mount Helena (of course) we spend the day hunting for a positive ID…