Mothers Day, 2026

We usually go to Grand Teton National Park for a day of wildlife viewing followed by a picnic in the park. However, this year we were invited to go to our daughter's, Jen and Eric's house, to celebrate the day at their place in Montana! It’s a three-hundred-mile drive. On the trip we first drive through the Idaho National Laboratory, It’s about one hundred miles from Idaho Falls to Salmon, Idaho before the scenic drive over Lost Trail Pass. The pass was the pass that Lewis and Clark used to cross the Continemtal divide and head for the Pacific Ocean , (its named Lost Pass because it’s one of the few parts of the trail that no one is sure about)). The weather was extremely warm for this time of year in Northern Montana.

The Bitterroot River was high with the early snowmelt, so we decided not to go fishing, (Renita is a good fly fisherwoman and has earned an award for her catching the four types of cutthroat trout), native to Wyoming.

Other options, before Mother’s Day, were to go to the Farmers Market in Hamilton, Montana, take hikes along the river, and go birding, (we did all three). For Mother’s Day, Renita wanted to go to the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge for a day of birding and wildlife viewing.

The trails at Lee Metcalf are easy, level hiking, are well maintained, and so well-traveled that we didn’t have to worry about it being the spring wood tick season. California Quail are everywhere. It was a short drive to the Refuge and as we drove to the parking lot we passed wild turkeys, and sandhill cranes.

Under one tree, a wild turkey thought it was hiding so we stopped and took its picture. I also tried to vocalize a turkey gobbling, and the bird answered me. The few times I went turkey hunting I had bought a turkey call, but the turkeys didn’t like its tone.

Walking down the trail we spotted a tree full of holes left by a Pileated Woodpecker. Notice the large triangular hole indicating a hole drilled by a Pileated.

Nearby a Hairy Woodpecker drilled holes looking for larva, and a little bit later a Lewis’s Woodpecker landed near the top of a tree, (the woodpecker was named for Meriweather Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

As we walked further a Bald Eagle Soared overhead and a possible Golden Eagle flew by.

Sheepherders are having problems with the Golden Eagles as they hunt and kill lambs. In one area of Wyoming, they are killing Golden Eagles because of the predation, (allowed by the Federal Government).

Arriving back at their house we watched as Jen planted rows of plants in ter huge Garden! Eric worked on mowing their one-acre lot. Renita and I got tired from watching them work, so we rested in their lawn chairs.

An osprey sat on a man-made nesting platform, unconcerned whe we stopped to take a picture.

Driving to a small marshy lake a Pied Billed Grebe paddled away, and a Ruddy Duck posed for a picture. Mallards were everywhere including this close up of a female.

As we left, we did see more turkeys, but I don’t know what subspecies these turkeys are, (in Wyoming the turkeys are from the Rio Grande. It was a fine day in Northern Montana. Arriving back at their hose we watched as Jen planted rows of plants in her huge garden as Eric worked on mowing their one-acre lot. Renita and I got tired from watching them work, so we rested in their lawn chairs. The evening ended after a great meal at a local restaurant. Clear skies ps Hope yall had a great Mothers Day!

Fishing the Bitterroot, Hamilton, Montana

Our time up North was drawing to a close, we still had one thing to do, and that was to visit our daughter Jen and her husband Eric. Of course, the main purpose was to see them, but we had also never fished on the Bitterroot. It’s one of the classic Western streams that contains native Cutthroat, introduced Browns, and even some rainbows. No fishing trip would be complete without going to the local fly shop and buying flies, both dry and wet. The owner was very knowledgeable and talked us into spending about one hundred dollars, he also told us that if it was a clear sunny day and the fish wouldn’t be biting. Walking out of the shop we enjoyed the warmth of the bright sun.

A hatch was occurring of tiny, and I mean tiny mayflies so besides various nymphs, wet flies that sink, I purchased some size 22 and 24 dries that matched the hatch. The Bitterroot runs from south to north so we drove to a public access point to the north and if the first spot didn’t work would drive south fishing other access points if needed, At the first stop Jen and Eric walked upstream while Renita and I started at the bridge. I was throwing a streamer, which resembles a minnow, and Renita tied on a size 14 purple haze, (which he also said worked and it’s a fly we use a lot in Wyoming). Neither of us had any takers, or even lookers so we walked upstream. I waded out to a small island and saw two fish taking something off the top. Changing flies, I put on a dry purple haze and on the second cast a fish rose and took my dry! I was so excited I pulled the fly out of its mouth and missed it. After numerous casts, I switched to a tiny size 24 mayfly but still no luck.

We walked further upstream and at a sunken tree I spotted probably the biggest cutthroat I have ever seen. Casting my fly, the trout simply swam into a mass of roots, all I could see was its tail. It never looked at my fly! I should have taken a picture with my phone as I didn’t have a snowballs chance in hell of catching it. Even if it had taken my offering, it would have simply swam into the roots and broken my leader. Meanwhile Renita headed to another spot and tried again without any success. Jen and Eric met us and I told them about the huge trout. They never saw the fish as it had moved deeper into its lair. We decided to move to another access point, without any luck. To add to our misery there were quite a few fish taking very small flies, which we couldn’t see. I switched to a size 24 dry, but it didn’t matter, The sun was still shining brightly, (note the excuse from the fly shop owner)! A bald eagle flew overhead deciding we were no threat to its food source, (do you like the way I change the subject)? Jen hadn’t caught any fish either and talked about spotting a school of large fish feeding on the bottom. They were probably Mountain whitefish, a tasty white meat fish, but they wouldn’t bite on our offerings. As we prepared to leave, the sun was still shining brightly! Renita and I both kept casting until Jen told us we had to go, as we had reservations at our favorite steakhouse. It wasn’t the first time we had been skunked. We will be back! Clear skies

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge May 2, 2025

Jen and Eric were working so we decided to go birding at one of our favorite places. Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge. It’s a short drive from their house in Hamilton and we usually see an occupied great horned owl nest.

The nest was empty so the owls must have flown, if they used it this year). So we continued on our walk. Hearing several different birds, Renita used her Merlin app to record their sound and to identify them. One of the birds it identified was a new bird for us, a Vaux’s Swift. They are migrating and they do nest in the area so we got one for our life list. Other birds we spotted and photographed were a cinnamon teal,

a Northern Shoveler

,

A Red Tailed Hawk, (with a vole in its claws), and a wild turkey.

As we watched the birds a muskrat swam by and a prairie dog/ground squirrel stood tall.

Nothing unusual but any day we get a new life bird is a great day. Clear skies

Making Apple Cider

Arriving at Hamilton we started the day right with Eric and Jenny hugs. It had been a long two days of driving from Salt Lake City, where Renita had a yearly exam. From there we drove six hundred miles to Hamilton, Montana. Upon arrival Jen told us it was a special weekend, Apple Days. The next morning we went downtown and arriving early were able to buy two homemade apple pies. Taking them back to their house we ate a quick lunch and then went to one of their friends farm where their huge extended family had gathered to make apple cider.

There were quite a few people there but after being shown around we found spots at the cutting tables. Our job there was to inspect the apples for worms and cut the wormy portion away. Apparently, worms give the cider a bad taste. The apples were first giving a bath in a weak bleach solution before moving to a rinsing blue tub. From there they were rinsed a second time in another tub before they were scooped out and moved to the cutting tables, (Eric was the main scooper).

If the apples had a worm hole Renita and I would cut them in half before chopping them into smaller pieces, ( it reminded me of my career as a teacher where I sorted good and bad apples). Next, they were taken to the cider press which used an electric drill powered press to force the juice out of the apples. Even though there were four tables of cutters this was the slowest part of the operation and we spent four hours chopping apples.

The juice was then carried to the bagging station where Jen filled each bag with a gallon of cider and then placed each bag in the sun. Meanwhile another person asked us to guess how many gallons of apple cider would be made. Renita and I were not even close as the actually number was 297. Luckily it was cool and many of the stations had tented roofs, so it was bearable. Tired and sore we left before they distributed the cider and Jen brough back the gallon of cider we were given for our stint at the cutting table, (my lower back was sore for the next two days). It was really neat to take part in the cider making. As we worked for at least two hours we were given glasses of apple cider to spur us on! Most of the apple grown around Hamilton are Macintosh but some brought other apples from as far away as Washington State. Thanks for the opportunity to join in making Apple Cider! Clear skies

A Rainy Drive to Painted Rock State Park

It was our last day at Jen and Erics and while we had hoped for a hike the weather said otherwise. Instead, Jen and Eric took us on a sightseeing drive to Painted Rock State Park. Along the way we passed a hear of buffalo. It was a private herd and a sign started that the buffalo/buffalo meat were for sale. ! The herd was in several different pastures and the distant one contained red dogs, (this year’s calf buffalo). Not having a freezer big enough to hold all the meat we drove on, (we enjoy buffalo meat but have never had the chance to taste the buffalo hunters favorite cuts, (the hump and the tongue) Further on we reached the dam that marked the start of Painted Rock State Park. It was not our first trip there and I wrote of our visit in one of last year’s blogs. A novice fly fisherman was practicing casting his line. He was doing pretty good so I didn’t mention that he should practice a roll cast, (it’s a perfect cast for small streams lined with willows and brush).

We glassed for birds but the steady, but light rain kept them hidden in the trees. Green head mallards flew by, and a pair of common mergansers landed in a distant inlet. The rain continued and so we enjoyed the view from the car windows and enjoyed the chance to visit about our stay. As always we so enjoyed and the next day we left early for our trip back to Star Valley. Soon our Park Model, (think tiny home), would be delivered and we knew we would be too busy for much else, with the set-up and packing, Thanks Jen and Eric for all the fun,food, hikes, and especially your love. Clear skies Our internet connection is so lousy that I can't upload pictures. Later

Shalkaho Park, Hamilton, Montana

Along the Bitterroot River lies a delightful City Park. It is named Skalkaho. Its all the normal things in a city park but also a delightful and easy set of trails. These parallel the river and you can encounter many birds, often times a moose, and this year a mountain lion was in the area.

We had a few days left with Jen and Eric. Eric had to work so we decided to stroll along the park’s many trails. The snow is melting, and the river was bank full as we began our stroll. We parked just north of town and at first headed down river. It’s a place where we have seen moose, but not today, The trees were budding, but we picked a bad time as the birds were not in evidence. Sometimes we see pileated woodpeckers and we did head a bird working on a tree, but it wasn’t the deep pecks of a pileated. Instead it was a different woodpecker and we did not spot it. The pileated woodpeckers leave huge holes as they search for grubs. There were quite a few people enjoying the trails. We did see some Canadian geese and a few mallards, but nothing unusual, It was a simple and easy hike made extra enjoyable with Jen and Renita. Again, thanks Jen and Eric for all your guidance. Clear skies and Love

Blodgett Point Hike

We took our first hike at altitude. Jen and Eric are careful to watch us and make sure we were not overdoing it. Their first selection was one we have never been on before. It’s a hike to a place called Blodgett Point and looks down on the Canyon hike we took last year.

This year, due to low snowfall, the hike was dry, and was about one and a half miles long, three miles round trip. The total elevation gain was about three hundred feet, which is about half the height of Devils Tower, which I use to rock climb.

We were passed by many others and on the way down a biker was attempting to ride up the trail. Something I will never try! It was a good pick and we will soon be hiking in Grand Teton National Park. Thanks Jen and Eric! Clear skies

Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge, April 2024

It’s about a five-hour drive to our daughter and son in laws home in Hamilton, Montana and we were warmly greeted with hugs upon our arrival. It rained lightly and a little snow fell but the pass was open and was clear of any ice. The next several days were more snow and light rain so we decided to go to the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. Jen drove and Eric had the day off. It’s not very far away from their home and upon arrival we were surprised at the number of cars in the parking lot.

">

The main attraction is a pair of nesting Great Horned Owls and their brood of owlets. It’s a short hike on a good path to the large cottonwood tree where the owls have their nest. We could see the male owl and female parents both perching in separate trees, (both were sleeping). Their three young were all in the hollowed-out tree and we could just see one of the owlets peeking out, looking for it’s parents. They were fletching and would soon venture out, but they stayed put on the day we were there.

Continuing on Renita took a picture of a Northern Flicker, and I took one of an America Robin sitting on its nest.

Further an osprey sat on the top of a tree overlooking the Bitterroot River. Everyone else watched as a bald eagle soared but it disappeared before we could get a shot, Further along a pair of California Quail nervously watched us.

They were introduced here years ago and do well in the Bitterroot valley. Many of the paths were muddy and so we decided to drive to the Refuge headquarters. There is a large pond awaited with many species of ducks. An osprey stared at the pond and took off while we were taking its picture.

It flew to the pond, dove and grabbed a fish in its talons. It returned to its perch above us for its meal. Nothing like fresh sushi.

Its mate sat on their nest a little further in but this meal was not for sharing. Several mallards fed by dabbling on the underwater vegetation. Besides the plants they also eat the small invertebrates that live in plants, It’s an extremely healthy food source. Ducks don’t have teeth, but they have a serrated bill with edges on their beaks, which helps them to tear off the rooted plants.

A Barrows Golden Eye swam by, you can see why they are so aptly named, and a Cinnamon Teal,(a crummy picture) and a pair of Northern Shovelers were also feeding.

Driving past the headquarters we watched a lone sandhill crane and stopped for pictures of a strutting turkey.

As it displayed its fanned out tail, a hen turkey watched, trying to decide if the tom was a suitable mate.

We also spotted a red tailed hawk, and I did get a picure of it flying overhead.

On the way back Jen and Eric pointed out a male pheasant.

Such a beautiful bird! It was accompanied by a brood of chicks, but they disappeared into the tall grass before I could take their picture. It had been a good outing, a nice day of birding, and it felt good to start our Montana adventure with an easy hike. Thanks Jen and Eric! Clear skies