By Dan Casey
Rare and Notables – September/October 2025
See also: https://ebird.org/region/US-MT-029?yr=all
Remarkably like a year ago, we had continued warm and dry weather throughout the period. A lack of cold fronts made for a relatively mundane migration period. Lingering birds in the region included White-faced Ibis, Lazuli Bunting, Willow Flycatcher, Cassin’s Vireo, Western Tanager, Northern House Wren, and Eastern Kingbird. Good numbers of Broad-winged Hawks were seen both at Mt. Brown and the Jewel Basin Hawk Watch. “Winter” gulls were slow to arrive, with few records of American Herring Gull and just one record of a Short-billed Gull. The first Rough-legged Hawks and Northern Shrikes arrived late in the period.
09/13 – White-faced Ibis (1) Creston (Craig H)
09/14 – Lazuli Bunting (1) Somers Beach State Park (Dan C)
09/16 – Willow Flycatcher (late) Creston (Craig H)
09/16 – Rock Wren (1) Highline Trail, Glacier NP (Spencer G)
09/18 – Broad-winged Hawk (40) Jewel Basin Hawk Watch (Dan S)
09/22 – “Harlan’s” Red-tailed Hawk (first of season) Jewel Basin (Josh C)
09/27 – Western Tanager (late) South of Columbia Falls (Steve G)
09/27 – Rough-legged Hawk (first of season) Jewel Basin Hawk Watch (Josh C)
09/29 – Common Tern (1) Pablo Reservoir (Luis R)
09/29 – Cassin’s Vireo (1) St Ignatius (Anon)
09/30 – Northern House Wren (late) St Ignatius (Anon)
10/01 – Say’s Phoebe (1) West of Ronan (James M)
10/02 – Townsend’s Warbler (late) South of Columbia Falls (Steve G)
10/10 – Red-naped Sapsucker (1) St Ignatius (Anon)
10/11 – Eastern Kingbird (late) Polson (Shawn R)
10/12 – Short-billed Gull (1) Lakeside Marina (Dan C)
What to Expect – November 2025Late October and early November is the best time of the year for the three scoter species (especially Surf Scoter) 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 arrive and thrive on this year’s berry crop. Perhaps the first Snow Buntings or even a Snowy Owl will show up in the open farmlands of West and Lower Valleys. American Herring, Iceland, and Glaucous Gulls should join the Valley flock, alternating between the landfill and Flathead Lake WPA.