Nature, every day.

Category: Uncategorized

  • The Curlew’s Song

    The Curlew’s Song

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    BradinMontana
    in

    The genus of the Long-billed Curlew is Numenius – Greek for “of” or “like” the new moon. In various cultures, the curlew symbolizes a duality of sorrow and joy, comfort and sadness; a certain poignancy, I suppose. I’m not sure if the “new moon” refers to the fresh beginning of a lunar cycle – curlews do…

  • A Break From Artificial Demands

    A Break From Artificial Demands

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    BradinMontana
    in

    I’ve taken several days off since early March – a couple of short breaks and a couple of longer stints. Life is returning to the Northwest, and even following a mild winter, experiencing the return of birds and flowers is something to behold. The upshot of this time off is 42 species of birds recorded…

  • Crowdsourcing Science

    Crowdsourcing Science

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    BradinMontana
    in

    In our increasingly connected world, field science is no longer strictly in the realm of graduate students in our University System. All across Montana it happens every day in empty lots, along stream banks, and on the trails traversing our hills and valleys. This collaborative movement is called community science- a partnership where people observe…

  • Georgetown Lake area

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    BradinMontana
    in

    This was a shocker. SMR and I slipped away for a few days to celebrate out 30th, and we spent some time hiking and hanging out in the Georgetown Lake area. I would never have guessed that we would find a Harebell in bloom in mid-October, but we did. The colors and scenery around Anaconda…

  • Sunset with a Bird

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    BradinMontana
    in

    We were watching the sunset today and looked up into a tree and realized this Clark’s Nutcracker was doing the same. Nice to know they appreciate a good view.

  • A Walk Along the Missouri

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    BradinMontana
    in

    We took a really nice day trip to Great Falls and spent some time walking along the Missouri. The sky, water, and colors on the trees was a really nice change of pace from Helena’s (mostly) coniferous forests.

  • Autumn Sunrises

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    BradinMontana
    in

    This time of year, I find myself taking a lot of images of skyscapes. Sunrises and longs horizons. I love the colors and the textures that you get when you add a little elvation to the equation- I can’t help it. This one is from the middle slopes of Mount Helena. One of my very…

  • Late Season Coneflower

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    BradinMontana
    in

    I guess you never know what you’ll find if you pay attention. I would not have expected to see Prairie Coneflowers still in blossom in middle of September. Yet here they are, right along the LeGrand Canon sidewalk out at the west end. Nice!

  • The Darkness is Moving In

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    BradinMontana
    in

    Living north of the 45th parallel measn we get long, wonderful days in the summer and looooong dark nights in the winter. It also means that, as we approach the autumnal equinox, we begin losing our morning light and early walks require a headlamp. Today is the first headlamp walk of the year. This was…

  • Turns Out They’re Meadowhawks

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    BradinMontana
    in

    I finally had what I refer to as a dragonfly stop long enough for an image to be captured. I have tried – unsuccessuly – for a couple of years to get a good dragonfly image to no avail. When this one stayed still and alowed me to zoom and focus, I was really pleased.…