Golden hour #Montana

I seem to have lots of rabbits in my yard and, from what I can tell, they love dandelions.

The weekend forecast is for hot and sunny weather. Summer is here! #Montana

We have an osprey chick! #Montana

Lots of cows out in the pastures. #Montana

Bear grass is starting to bloom up in the mountains a bit. #Montana

Good morning from the back porch. It is the last day of June and we are finally seeing peeks of sunshine after days of cool rain. It is currently 51°F and heading for a high of 70°F today. It looks like we are in for a nice stretch of weather heading into Independence Day. #Montana

Winter storm warnings were issued for higher elevations of western Montana. Not all that uncommon to have a few cool, rainy/snowy days this time of year. I sure don't mind everything nice and green.

A vesper sparrow sings his beautiful song across the Montana prairie

The silvery lupine is blooming everywhere, leaving a touch of purple across the valley. #Montana

Mom safely left her baby tucked in a patch of grass by an old foundation. She and her fawn were gone about 30 minutes later.

I got a chance to see some federally endangered Piping Plover chicks on the beach near the Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan. In the Great Lakes, these migratory shore birds were at a low of 12 nesting pairs in the 1980s to now over 70 nesting pairs on the beaches of all five of the Great Lakes.

I once had a guide book that described the male blue-gray gnatcatcher as having an angry furrowed unibrow. 😄 I am not sure why they would give such a description for this cute little guy.

A northern yellow warbler singing his sweet song makes any day just a little sunnier. 🌞

This time of year you can usually hear them but have to hunt a little bit to see them. This one made an appearance with a low flyover.

A Song Sparrow at Maumee Bay doing what it does best! #Ohio

One little warbler that I have never seen is a Black-throated Blue. Then suddenly, there it was, perched on a little a little branch at Magee Marsh. A lifer! #Ohio

A Sora foraging along an open area of the marsh at Maumee Bay. They are fairly approachable and fun to watch as they poke the surface of the water and anxiously flick their tail. #Ohio

Every now and then you catch a warbler sitting still, but it isn't very often. I caught this black-and-white warbler preening at Magee Marsh. #Ohio

A female American Redstart singing her heart out at Magee Marsh. #Ohio

I caught this Ruby-throated Hummingbird resting briefly after feeding on a nearby flowering shrub. These guys are just arriving back in this area. #Ohio

A Bay-breasted Warbler at Magee Marsh. Another wonderful migrant moving through along Lake Erie on his way to Canada. #Ohio

A beautiful Blackburnian warbler at Magee Marsh during the Biggest Week in American Birding along the shores of Lake Erie. #Ohio

Checking in to Maumee Bay State Park, on the shores of Lake Erie, for the Biggest Week in American Birding. During the month of May, this area becomes the "Warbler Capital of the World." #Ohio

Trumpeter swans making their way through a nearby creek. #Montana

This mountain bluebird is looking his best heading into the weekend. #Birds #Montana

Looking north, across an area called Dry Gulch, into the mountains of the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

The quaking aspen catkins can be seen across the valley.

Snow squall over the mountains. #Montana

The ospreys are back. I've been looking forward to seeing them return to the valley this spring. #Montana

Starting to see Long-billed Curlews out in the fields. #Birds #Montana

The northern lights made an appearance in the wee hours of a cold Saturday morning here in western Montana. It was a pretty nice show, despite a few clouds. #Montana

Do you ever get the feeling you are being watched? This Columbian Ground Squirrel was keep an eye on me as I stopped to take photos. #Montana

Reflections on my favorite duck pond. #Montana

This boisterous Western Meadowlark was mid-song. His song rings out from atop the fencepost, as if it was just to brighten your day. #Montana

The Sandhill Cranes can be seen and heard everywhere now. It won't be too long and we'll be seeing some colts. #Montana

All is quiet on the North Fork Blackfoot River. No doubt that will change soon. #Montana

Don't let this cute little fluff ball fool you. These Northern Shrikes are fierce predators. #Montana

I've been seeing so many mountain bluebirds this spring. They are just beautiful. #Montana

The lake is almost ice free but the Lewis and Clark mountains have some fresh snow. #Montana

Ring-necked ducks on the lake.

White-tailed deer enjoying a warm spring afternoon. #Montana

John Muir said the following about the Ponderosa Pine, "Of all the pines, this one gives forth the finest music to the winds." #Montana

Lots of water in the valley from the recent snow melt. More snow on the way? #Montana

Lots of ducks moving through on the lake. I see Ring-necked, Common Goldeneye and Northern Pintail (one of my favorites). #Montana

A young mule deer wandering about the brush. Mom is keeping a close watch. #Montana

I was eyeing some ducks through my camera viewfinder when these trumpeter swans launched from another part of the pond. What a wonderful surprise! #Montana

I trekked down behind the house, in the face of a cold, west wind, to take in last night's sunset. #Montana

Early airport sunrise.

Sigh, 18°F. It seems a little harsh considering it was 73°F just two days ago.