by Dan Casey Rare and Notables – Oct/Nov Wintery weather was slow to come, but winter migrants and residents began to arrive, including Tundra Swans, Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Shrikes, Bohemian Waxwings and Common Redpolls. Rarities included all three scoter species, 2 lingering Anna’s Hummingbirds, and a Lesser Goldfinch in Somers. See https://ebird.org/region/US-MT-029?yr=all for more. 9/28…
Read Moreby Dan Casey Rare and Notables – Aug/Sept Cold fronts were few and far between, and correspondingly, the quantity of fall migrants seemed low. But several rarities were found, including two county firsts (Chestnut-sided Warbler, Ruddy Turnstone). Sandhill Cranes began to gather in the West Valley as the last hummingbirds, swallows and Ospreys moved on…
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Rare and Notables – November 2020 Incredibly, the YELLOW-BILLED LOON (immature) found on Dickey Lake by Nikki M. on July 5th was present until Oct. 21st at the latest (Lewis Y.) Unsure if it is still around. 10/19 – Surf Scoter found at the Creston wetland (Craig H.) 10/23 – Mew Gull spotted at the…
Read Moreby Joshua Covill Rare and Notables – October 2020 Incredibly, the YELLOW-BILLED LOON (immature) found on Dickey Lake by Nikki M. on July 5th is still present! Dan Casey resighted the loon on Oct. 17th 09/18 – Swamp Sparrow found near Creston (Craig H.) 09/21 – 2 White-faced Ibis in the West Valley Ponds…
Read Moreby Joshua Covill Rare and Notables – January 2020 12/24 – the NORTHERN CARDINAL in Marion was seen again at the same private residence that it was initially reported from, meaning it was been around for 1.5 months (Criag H. & Raylene W.) 12/29 – Prairie Falcon along Fairview Cemetery Rd south of Columbia Falls…
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The Meta-Threat by Dennis Olson In the last Pileated Post, FAS Board member Carole Jorgensen and Post Editor Lewis Young wrote two wonderful short summaries of two separate “meta-studies” – regarding the 29% decline in North American bird populations in the last 50 years, and, respectively, an Audubon study outlining the 64% of North American…
Read Moreby Joshua Covill Rare and Notables – November 2019 10/20 – Barred Owl photographed at Owen Sowerwine Natural Area (Jake B.) 10/25 – Surf Scoter in Somers Bay, Flathead Lake (Craig H.) 10/27 – 8 Greater White-fronted Geese on West Valley Ponds with Canada Geese flocks (Dan C.) 10/27 – Surf Scoter on Foy’s Lake…
Read Moreby Joshua Covill Rare and Notables – October 2019 10/4 – Harris’s Sparrow along Riverside Road in Creston (Craig H.) 10/4 – Boreal Chickadee in flock of other chickadees near Upper Whitefish Lake (Joshua C.) 10/8 – 2 Surf Scoters on Lake McDonald in Glacier NP – seen from road and from Apgar (Matthew S.)…
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The Upper Swan Valley Christmas Bird Count was held on December 15th. Clouds gave way to blue sky with breaks of sun, and participants enjoyed mild temperatures in the mid 30s. Snow conditions varied widely from the valley bottom (elevation ~3600’, snow depth 2”) to the mountains, where skiers and snowshoers encountered fresh powder up…
Read MoreBy Gail Cleveland There is a chill in the air, the flowers are fading and the Mountain Ash berries, snowberries, rose hips and ornamental crab apples will soon be the “color” in my backyard. These berries will be the winter food for one of my favorite birds, the Waxwings. During the winter months, flocks of…
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