Steve arrived on Sunday afternoon. Finding a level spot for his Lance trailer took a bit of doing, but all went well. We wined and dined and turned in early. First morning on the lake.

Magpie

Red-winged Blackbird with yellow showing. At first I thought this was a tri-colored, but no, the books say that outside of California where only the red shows, most Red-winged Blackbirds have a yellow stripe as well.

Nesting Stilt

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Osprey Mom patiently sitting--I check most mornings. We spent this day doing odds and ends around the house and taking walks. Thank you, Steve, for helping me micro-adjust my 100-400 lens!

Lake Mc Donald

Avalanche Trail at Glacier Park

Steve and friend

Here on the lake, a sweet Calliope Hummingbird is back in a new nest right over the deck.

Kinglet?

We left the ranch and drove the back roads over to the Ninepipe Wildlife Refuge, first heading down Duck Road. True to its name, it housed many ducks, among them these Ring-necked, first sighting for me.

Redtailed Hawk

Ninepipes (Great-Blue in foreground)

Steve treats us at local Mexican restaurant

Avalanche Lake in Glacier Park. Of course we missed the black bear that was walking along the shore about 5 minutes before we arrived!

Early the first morning, we head over to the Marchi Ranch where the family of Great-horned Owls were ever-present last year. Parent Great-horned Owls--very shy and distant. We walk the entire property trying to find the nest, to no avail.

Bullock's Oriole flitted by.

Muskrat gathering nesting materials

Trumpeter Swans from very very far away . . .

It was raining off and on in various places all day. Our last stop was Pablo Reservoir, where there were no birds at all, but a great view of a downpour over Polson.

Lake Mc Donald in Glacier Park with jet trails. There were very few tourists--so peaceful at this time of year. The Going To The Sun Road was open only to Avalanche, however.

Steve and friend

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, perhaps?

Ever-present Robin. We watched as she swung and looped this very very long worm so she could carry it more easily. Quite a maneuver!

Long-billed Curlew

Readhead

Red-naped Sapsucker--captured the one morning Steve slept in!

Along Going to the Sun Road.

What to do when subject lands on camera?

I brought my heavy DSLR, but the only bird we saw was this Varied Thrush departing rapidly . . . Next day, Steve departed on his 3-year sojourn. He discovered that his trailer has a bent axle to be fixed--then on to parts unknown.Quite an undertaking! Bon voyage, Steve!

Red-tailed Hawk

Cedar Waxwing Comedy Team

Wilson's Phalaropes

Readheads

Lake Mc Donald in the background

On the hike to Avalanche Lake

Steve and friend yet again