by Dan Casey

Rare and Notables –  September/October 2023

It was an excellent month for migration, with record numbers of Broad-winged Hawks at the Jewel Basin Hawk Watch, and an influx of gulls (including Lesser Black-backed and Short-billed). A small group of Greater White-fronted Geese in Somers was followed by two which spent several days at the West Valley Crane Viewing Area. A late Bobolink and a couple of Swamp Sparrows were good finds among the more typical migrant sparrow flocks.

See also: https://ebird.org/region/US-MT-029?yr=all

  • 09/13 – Lesser Black-backed Gull (ad) Flathead Lake WPA (Craig H.) many obs thru 09/25)
  • 09/16 – Broad-winged Hawk (15) Jewel Basin Hawk Watch (Dan C.)
  • 09/20 – “Black” Merlin (3) Two at Echo Lake Causeway (Dan C.) plus one at the JBHW (Josh C.)
  • 09/20 – Greater White-fronted Goose (5) North Somers Road (Dan C.)
  • 09/22 – Short-billed Gull (2) Osprey View Conservation Area, Bigfork (Dan C.)
  • 09/25 – Bobolink (1) Somers Beach State Park (Andrew G.)
  • 10/01 – Swamp Sparrow (1) West Valley (Jake B.) Also (1) at Foys Lake 10/10 (Grant P.)
  • 10/01 – American Golden-Plover (3) West Valley (Jake B.)
  • 10/06 – Rough-legged Hawk (1; first of season) Jewel Basin Hawk Watch (bj W.)
  • 10/12 – Snow Goose (26) Mount Brown Hawk Watch (Anon.)
  • 10/12 – Lapland Longspur (13) West Valley Ponds (Jake B.)
  • 10/14 – Northern Saw-whet Owl (1) Glacier Bible Camp (Caleb L.)
  • 10/14 – Mountain Bluebird (24; late high count) Jewel Basin Hawk Watch (Linda S.)

What to Expect – November 2023

Late October and early November is the best time of the year for the three scoter species (especially Surf) on our larger bodies of water. Rough-legged Hawk numbers will continue to build through the period, and “Harlan’s” Red-tailed Hawks become regular throughout the valley. Flocks of Bohemian Waxwings should also continue to grow. Perhaps the first Snow Buntings or even a Snowy Owl will show up in the open farmlands of West and Lower Valleys. Glaucous and Iceland (Thayer’s) Gulls should join the valley flock, alternating between the landfill and Flathead Lake WPA.