Is this Erigeron compactus (Fern-leaf Fleabane)?

I photographed this flower on a dry ridge south of Sweathouse Creek at mid-elevation. I haven't been able to find a good photo of Erigeron compactus (Fern-leaf Fleabane) but the description sounds like this flower. Anyone out there know?

Osprey - nice dive but no fish - Slideshow

The osprey were very active. They recently returned to the area and are working on their nests and looking for food. We saw at least 4 pair on the float today. The photos begin with the osprey hunting for fish, hovering, then diving in the water, emerging, and finally flying down river.

This osprey did not emerge with a fish, not even after a few tries. But the dive was amazing and it was close enough to get some pretty good shots.

The Osprey that caught the fish - Slideshow

The osprey were very active. They recently returned to the area and are working on their nests and looking for food. We saw at least 4 pair on the float today. The photos begin with the osprey hunting for fish, hovering, then diving in the water, emerging, and finally flying down river.

A Few More Wildflowers in April

I saw this Yellowbell on April 8th. There are more, now, you will see them with the Shooting Stars in the photo below. To quote the Montana Plant Life.org site,

"...usually solitary, occasionally 2, and rarely 3, nodding, rather narrowly
bell-shaped, yellow, often purplish-or brownish-streaked near the base, fading
to red or purple."

The next two photos were taken on April 20.

Shooting Stars are so pretty! I found these next to a second order stream on the south side of Sweathouse Creek.

To the left is one of the most popular spring flowers, the Glacier Lily, or some people call them the Dogtooth Violet. They come into bloom in our area in April just after the Buttercups, Yellowbells, and Shooting Stars. These were in a shaded montane forest also south of Sweathouse Creek.

Spring has sprung Flowers - Pasqueflower

I have been busy editing a large amount of photos so I haven't posted recently. I am putting a Pasque Flower on for now and will come back with a slideshow soon of all the wildflowers I am seeing. They are beautiful and certainly lift one's spirits.

I see these Pasque Flowers on lower elevation shady slopes that have good drainage. Montana Plant Life.org has an interesting write-up on medicinal uses for this plant.

Click here for Montana Plant Life.org's Pasqueflower page or Yahoo search for Pasque Flower.

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Bluebirds - a zillion along the Bitterroot River

We floated the Bitterroot on a warm day in April. One of the amazing sights was this large flock of Western Bluebirds along the bank.

I hope you enjoy the slideshow below.

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Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Freda

Jack and I found our puppy. We bought her from Florence Wells and family in Belgrade, MT. She was 7 weeks old on April 11.

This puppy is the sweetest thing you have ever seen. She is smart, loving and fiesty all in one furry package.

See the slideshow for a few more photos. If you visit this blog often, you will be seeing a lot more of her as she explores the outdoors with me!

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The Elk that thinks it's a Whitetail Deer

This elk calf has been observed living all winter with a herd of whitetail deer. Today I saw them. There were about 15 deer and this one elk. Pretty funny site! I wonder when it will hook up with the resident elk herd.

"Neigh"borhood Horses

Some one get the curry comb and brushes out! These horses need to get some of their winter coat removed. Aren't they sweet?

I love these guys. They live in the field next to our property and I see them everyday.

The photo to the left was taken yesterday, the one below was taken earlier this winter.

Goshawk again, back for dinner

This Goshawk has found a good dining spot at my chicken coop and run. I actually am keeping the chickens in and have too many roosters. My large Rhode Island Red rooster died of old age and I put it out in the aspens to see if the Goshawk ate carrion chickens as well as fresh chickens. IT DID.

It spent about 3 days working on the carcass. It would drag it under cover to eat and then revisited until it finished the chicken. Very interesting, defeathering the chicken is what took the longest. I don't know why, but it took all the feathers off before it got into the entrails. What a mess. My scent didn't bother the hawk at all. It came back even after I moved the chicken, but it wouldn't eat while I was watching.

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Robins

It is that time of year. We need to pay homage to the Robin.

Belted Kingfisher on the Bitterroot River, Montana

Belted Kingfisher we saw while floating the mainstem of the Bitterroot River.