Archive for the ‘St. Ignatious’ Category

No Bull!

Friday, July 10th, 2009

This is the typical landscape, without the bison, that you see driving from Bozeman to Missoula, Montana. Outside of the towns, it is only lightly dotted with homes and ranches. Most offramps have signs saying “No Services”. I did not see a single highway patrol or sheriff’s car until I got to Missoula. The picture above, of course, is from the National Bison Range.

Bison calves among the big guys. The 2,000 lb bulls are imposing. The bison are moved to a different pasture each day. Wonder how it is done.

This was the only pronghorn I saw tagged like this. It would be hard to catch a pronghorn, the way they can run.

Above: A catbird at the refuge.

Below: Another beautiful view from the refuge road.

Posted in Flathead Lake, St. Ignatious, antelope, bison, catbird, wildlife refuge | No Comments »

National Bison Range

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

Traveled through Yellowstone, staying one night at their Mammoth Hot Springs Campground, then headed through Boseman, Butte and Missoula, Montana. At Missoula, turned north towards Flathead Lake. There are some wildlife refuges between the small town of St. Ignatius and the lake, one being the National Bison Range. I considered not going to the Bison Range, as I have seen bison before. So glad I changed my mind. They have a 19 mile dirt road through the refuge that rises 2,000 feet. The views are spectacular!

The top picture is looking from the refuge towards the town of St. Ignatius and the Mission Mountains. The picture below it shows some of the refuge road going uphill, with Flathead River in the background. I don’t even have any pictures of bison so far. They haven’t been that interesting.

A lazuli bunting. The first one I’ve seen and gotten a picture of. In trees along one of the streams that goes through the refuge.

A sage grouse came out onto the road, then rushed back into the brush when It saw me.

House wren

A bighorn sheep seen while it was raining.

Pronghorn with a baby looking over it’s neck.

I stopped by a small rv park near the refuge to check their prices. The owner showed me a pair of swans that have nested in one of his ponds for the last six years. The red band around the neck of the adult is a Fish and Game banding.

Posted in Flathead Lake, St. Ignatious, bison, bunting, elk, grouse, sheep, swan, wildlife refuge | No Comments »