Nature, every day.

Category: Uncategorized

  • Hyalite Canyon

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    BradinMontana
    in

    Sometimes you just need a roadtrip. So, when my wildflowering buddy and I both had a couple of days off in a row, we did some expolring a bit further afield. It was a really nice day up in Hyalite Canyon, south of Bozeman. Five miles (8km) of hiking about, 18 new species of flowers…

  • Continental Divide Time

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    BradinMontana
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    This pink/purple beauty is the reason we went up to the pass this morning. We have a few flowers on our ‘hope to see’ list and this one is the easiest. The timing was right and the plant was exactly where we figured it would be. It’s always nice when a plan comes together. The…

  • Moose on the Loose

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    BradinMontana
    in

    Moose really are amazing to see in the wild. Especially when the ‘wild’ is about three miles (4.8k) out of town. Mammals tend to be fewer and farther between than birds and wildflowers everywhere in the Helena valley. That being said, I have seen a few species around- ground squirrels, deer, antelope, foxes, and the…

  • Grouse and Butterflies

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    BradinMontana
    in

    Nice Dusky Grouse we found along the trail up above MacDonald Pass. I’m always pleased by how the Lab demonstrates that he is a birding dog- not a bird dog. The grouse flushed when we were pretty close and when I stopped, the Lab watched me pull the camera out, determined everything was under control…

  • Butterfly Blues

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    BradinMontana
    in

    I think this one is a Western Tailed Blue. But I certainly may be mistaken. The spots on the outer wings are elongated, not round. So, it seems like a good match. Heading uphill this time of year lets me find flowers, birds, butterflies, and an escape from the heat of the day in the…

  • MacDonald Pass Area

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    BradinMontana
    in

    Once the wildflower and bird sightings begin to wane down in the valley – and on the typical trails – I head up to MacDonald Pass where a lovely section of the Continental Divide Trail transects our area. In our area, the CDT is comprised of forested hills and rocky outcroppings, and more than a…

  • Terrific Day Afield- June 30, 2024

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    BradinMontana
    in

    Over sixty species of birds today. Including two Canada Jays (being unmercifully harassed by a pint-sized Western Tanager), a whole slew of Lincoln’s Sparrows, Red-tailed Hawk, and a beautiful Red-naped Sapsucker that stayed still long enough for me to get an image. Lots of time in the field today. The Priest Pass area was totally…

  • June Solstice 2024

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    BradinMontana
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    It’s been a really nice day. We found the Blue-eyed Grass on Mount Helena, we also found a Boisduval’s Blue butterflies- Icaricia icarioides. And then we watched the Strawberry Full Moon rise. This Solstice has been a good one.

  • Mountain Lady Slippers

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    BradinMontana
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    Mountain Lady’s Slippers, Scarlet Paintbrush, Hillside Arnica, one of the Fleabanes, and a Scarlet Gaura. We found ourselves on several of Mount Helena’s trails today. We also picked up three new species of butterflies- but the images are pretty subpar. We found – Greenish Blue, an Eastern Tailed Blue, and Western Pygmy Blue. I need…

  • Anise Swallowtail

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    BradinMontana
    in

    This was exciting to find. I’ve never been able to capture this swallowtail for a picture. This is the Anise Swallowtail- Papilio zelicaon. He was flying around the top of the world along the Rodney Ridge Trail.