By Dan Casey
Rare and Notables – December 2025/January 2026, see also: https://ebird.org/region/US-MT-029?yr=all
The mildest December on record continued into January, with extraordinary numbers of
American Robins still in the valley. Lingering Western Bluebirds and Sandhill Cranes were also
reported. and the Anna’s Hummingbird near Creston was still present early January. A single
strong cold front did finally bring more Bohemian Waxwings and Rough-legged Hawks. Purple
Finches were present at multiple locations in unprecedented numbers. Perhaps the biggest
excitement of the season was a loon on Somers Bay originally identified as what would have
been Montana’s first Arctic Loon. Careful study and review of photos by outside experts,
notably from Europe, confirmed the bird was an unusual Pacific Loon, still a rare bird for
December.
12/13 – Lewis’s Woodpecker (1) Fish Hatchery Rd, Ronan (Alex K.)
12/13 – Sandhill Crane (63) Ninepipe NWR (Dan S.) (14 still present 12/21 (Josh C.)
12/15 – Snow Goose (1-2) Polson-Ronan through 01/11 (many obs.)
12/17 – Purple Finch (4) Columbia Falls (Shannon D.) (up to 14 through period)
12/21 – Western Bluebird (13) Near Kicking Horse Res. (Dan S.)
12/21 – Purple Finch (3) Near Kicking Horse Res. (Dan S.)
12/21 – Spotted Towhee (1, continuing) Ronan (Dan S.)
12/21 – Western Bluebird (3) Creston area (Elle R.)
12/21 – Hermit Thrush (1) Quarter Circle Bridge (Jake B.)
12/21 – Sandhill Crane (14) Ninepipes NWR (Josh C.)
12/29 – Pacific Loon (1) Somers Bay (Dan C.) Seen by many through 01/02
12/31 – Purple Finch (1) Whitefish (bj W.) (up to 3 through 01/12)
01/01 – Long-tailed Duck (1) Troop Lake, Eureka (Elaine G.)
01/01 – Long-tailed Duck (1) Troy (Randy B.)
01/03 – Glaucous Gull (1) Flathead County Landfill (Dan C.)
01/03 – Rusty Blackbird (1) East of Kalispell (Michell T.)
01/07 – Purple Finch (7) Owen Sowerwine (Jake B.)
01/11 – Varied Thrush (1) Alfred Lake, Lincoln Co (Pat G.)
What to Expect – February 2026
It will be interesting to see if winter decides to arrive in earnest in late January. A few surprises
may show up at well-visited feeders, including Sharp-shinned Hawks, Northern Shrikes and/or
Northern Pygmy-Owls, all of which may be looking for easy “pickings”. Keep watching for
“winter finches” like Redpolls, White-winged Crossbills, and both Pine and Evening Grosbeaks.
By mid-February, the faintest glimmer of spring may appear in growing flocks of starlings and
Red-winged Blackbirds. It’s also a great time to look over the gull flocks at the lake and dump
for rarities (notably Glaucous or Glaucous-winged Gulls).