TAS Great Parks Trip

Birds and Beasts of the Great Parks

Part I, June 14-17, 2008 (click for Part II or the triplist)

Ten birders joined Paul Bithorn and me for Tropical Audubon's nine-day trip to the stunningly beautiful states of Montana and Wyoming. From start to finish, we enjoyed perfect weather, with clear skies and comfortable daytime temperatures. During our visit to three national parks and a number of other birding locations, we tallied 152 species of birds, including one unexpected species, seen only by Paul, and spotted 22 different mammals, plus untold numbers of wildflowers, butterflies and other critters!

Our adventure began and ended in Billings, Montana; our first and last bird of the trip was Black-billed Magpie, which we found around the Billings airport, and just about everywhere else we visited. After a late-afternoon arrival, we headed to short-grass prairie habitat near the town of Molt, west of Billings, where we found Pronghorns and Black-tailed Prairie Dogs. Birds seen here or en route included Cinnamon Teal, Gray Partridge, Ring-necked Pheasant, Prairie Falcon, Marbled Godwit, Long-billed Curlew, Wilson's Phalarope, White-throated Swift, Say's Phoebe, Western and Eastern Kingbird, Common Raven, Horned Lark, Brewer's, Vesper and Lark Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Western Meadowlark and Yellow-headed and Brewer's Blackbird. Before heading south to our motel in Laurel, we birded a short stretch of Canyon Creek Road, located between Molt and Laurel, hoping to find Pinyon Jays. We had no luck with the jays, but we did see the first of many Mule Deer.

Black Rosy-finches
With this and the other photos, you may click on the photo for a larger version.

The next morning we returned to Canyon Creek Road; this time we heard, but failed to see the Pinyon Jays. Also found here were Wild Turkey, White-throated Swift, Hairy Woodpecker, Cliff Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee and Lark Sparrow. We then headed south to Red Lodge; a stop at a rest area along the way produced our first Red-naped Sapsucker, Western Wood-Pewee, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler and House Finch. In Red Lodge, we visited the home of local Audubon member Barbara Jaquith, hoping to see Black Rosy Finch. This species is usually seen during summer only at the highest elevations, but fortunately for us, recent snows extended their stay in the lowlands. Her backyard feeders were still attracting a flock of about 200 rosy-finches! Also seen at her feeders were Calliope Hummingbird, Cassin's Finch and Pine Siskin.

Our intention was to enter Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park via the spectacular Beartooth Highway. Unfortunately, the road was closed due to a recent avalanche and snowstorm, so we had to detour via the equally scenic Chief Joseph Highway. Birds seen en route included Northern Goshawk, Golden Eagle, Warbling Vireo, Mountain Bluebird and Townsend's Solitaire. Our first Moose was sighted in a marshy area along this road. Soon after entering Yellowstone, we found our first Gray Jays and spotted a stunning pair of Harlequin Ducks on Soda Butte Creek. We searched for American Dipper along Pebble Creek, but instead found Spotted Sandpiper and Western Tanager. In the Lamar Valley we witnessed an aerial battle between a Bald Eagle and Prairie Falcon, and found our first Elk and Bison. On the road between Tower Junction and Mammoth Springs, we ran into our first bear-jam, as tourists (and attendant park rangers) lined the road to view a pair of Black Bears. Also seen along this road were Gadwall, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck and Sandhill Crane, the latter with chick. At Lava Creek, just before Mammoth Springs, we found an American Dipper on nest! Everyone in the group was able to study its unique feeding behavior as it dove into the rushing torrent and carried captured insects to its hungry nestling.

Gray Jay	Harlequin Ducks	Pronghorn
American Dipper		Least Chipmunk

The following morning at Mammoth Springs, we began with a hike on the Beaver Ponds Trail, where we spotted a pair of Williamson's Sapsuckers, plus Violet-green and Cliff Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Mountain Bluebird, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, White-crowned and Chipping Sparrow and Pine Siskin. We also paid a quick visit to the unique thermal features that make Mammoth Springs famous. In trees near the springs, Paul found both Plumbeous and Red-eyed Vireo. After breakfast, we headed south to the Old Faithful area. Along the way, we found our first Barrow's Goldeneye and drove through an area being used by a large herd of Bison, including many calves. At Old Faithful, the famous geyser erupted right on schedule.

Black Bear

Leaving Yellowstone, Paul's van spotted a brown-morph Black Bear along the road. We continued south into Grand Teton National Park, where at the northern end of Lake Jackson, we sighted Common Merganser, Common Loon, Western Grebe, our first California Gulls and an unidentified Empidonax flycatcher. At Oxbow Bend, near Lake Jackson's southern end, we added Clark's Grebe, American White Pelican and Beaver. Black-headed Grosbeak and Lincoln's Sparrow were found in surrounding willows. That evening, after we checked into our lodge in Jackson, Paul met with Jimmy Farmer, a childhood friend now living in the Jackson area, who had inside information on the whereabouts of a resident Great Gray Owl. After considerable searching, they located the owl and immediately planned a return engagement with the entire group for the following night.

The story continues in Part II

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