Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed Grouse – Bonasa umbellus

Ruffed Grouse (Photo by Merle Ann Loman)

Lewis called this bird, “the small brown pheasant” and he said it was “booted” or feathered to the foot. Actually, the feathers don’t quite reach the foot. Click the link to the slideshow for photos that illustrate these points. A very popular game bird, the Ruffed Grouse can actually benefit from fire and even logging. Ruffed grouse inhabit dense cover of mixed conifer and deciduous trees and shrubs and are often found along stream bottoms. The mosaic of vegetation that grows in under the burned tree canopy or more open, logged area is beneficial to the grouse providing them secure cover.

If you have been in the woods and heard a drumming sound in the spring, you may have heard a male Ruffed Grouse performing his mating ritual. To identify the Ruffed Grouse, look for the fan-shaped, banded tail and black ruff. No other grouse has these attributes.

The female builds a nest on the ground and usually hatches her eggs in June or sometimes early July. They will remain in the area and within a smaller home range and more densly covered habitat than the farther-ranging dusky or spruce grouse. Adult ruffed grouse may spend most of their lives in less than two square miles of habitat.

The young move from the area where they were brooded, especially when subject to moderate hunting pressure or heavy predation, but most importantly for food. The young grouse switch from a diet rich in insects, berries and greens to the foods that sustain them over the winter, including alder and aspen buds. During the early season, ruffed grouse usually feed on the ground, but once the snow flies, you will see them feeding among the branches of the trees. So if you are hunting for Ruffed Grouse in the fall, look for dense mixed woods with lots of alder or aspen.

For more info: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks — Ruffed Grouse Discovering Lewis & Clark – Ruffed Grouse Montana State University Extension Office – Ruffed Grouse Merle’s SmugMug photo site – Ruffed Grouse

The Bitterroot River in the fall

Reflections of the sky and fall leaves. Photo: Merle Ann Loman

Click Fall colors, fall fishing and more on the Bitterroot River in Montana for the article on Examiner.com

 

Fall is a great time to fish the Bitterroot River with the pleasant daytime temperatures cooling from hot summer days of August to the pleasant 70 degree range. The nights drop to 30 or 40 degrees and bring on the gorgeous colors of fall.

Seasonal changes from summer to fall also bring explosions of mayfly hatches such as trico, blue-winged olive, fall drake, and mahogany dun as well as the October caddis.You can expect to see surface feeding fish that will test the resolve of even the most accomplished anglers.

Erosion from spring run-off, or high water events, is a process where new habitat is created or perhaps eliminated. Logs that have been eroded from the banks and deposited somewhere along the channel form the classic Bitterroot holding water. They provide the necessary cover for daily survival and the shade to stay hidden in the heat of a summer day. The Bitterroot is home to a thriving beaver population which can aid in the creation of more new log buckets for the fish. In September, the leaves are on the trees and dropping on the water providing cover but the colors are changing from green to yellows, coppers, reds, and more.

 

A beautiful brown trout from the Bitterroot River. Photo: Merle Ann Loman

 

Many tributaries of the Bitterroot River headwaters originate in wilderness areas giving the main river a supply of pristine water up until late July. The West Fork, its main tributary has a dam which releases cold, clean water during the critical times of summer and early fall. The fisheries are a beneficiary of these enhanced flows as is the rancher who can grow his hay crop. Finding a balance between the needs of a fishery and human activities has been an ongoing contentious issue as demands for these cold water releases are increasing. Fortunately, the Bitterroot River fish have an in-stream flow reservation of water. The trout have been given a little consideration.

Deer crossing the Bitterroot. Photo: Merle Ann Loman

Despite increased recreational pressure which not only includes fishing but also boating, tubing, and swimming, the Bitterroot River seems to be thriving and still produces good numbers of westslope cutthroat, some brown and rainbow trout as well as the cuttbow, a hybrid between cutthroat and rainbow trout. Catch and release sections have been a big help as is the in-stream flow reservations. The Bitterroot River in Montana is a favorite fall fishing choice for beauty and a variety of fishing.

For more info:

Wapiti Waters Fly Fishing Montana – Bitterroot webpage

Wapiti Waters Fly Fishing Montana – Seasonal hatch information

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks – Bitterroot webpage

West Fly Entomology

 

Related Articles:

Fall colors are coming to the Bitterroot Valley in Montana

More photos:

Merle’s SmugMug photo site: Bitterroot River in the fall

Red-naped Sapsucker near Sweathouse Creek in the Bitterroot

I took these photos in late June and early July. They were in a medium sized Aspen snag in a fairly open, hot and dry area on the way up a ridge. They were really fun to watch as both the male and female fed their brood. The call is very distinct and is how I found them. Click this Red-naped Sapsucker link to hear the call.

At first I was confused about what kind of Woodpecker it was, but then I saw that the Red-naped Sapsucker has “messy barring” on the back. That is definitely how I would describe the barring on the birds in these photos. They are described as Bark Foragers – Forages for insects by gleaning, probing, prying, tapping, and flycatching. Drills series of shallow holes in bark of tree, licks up sap. The photos support this description.

By July 4, they had vacated the nest.

Click here to see all Merle’s SmugMug Red-Naped Sapsucker photos in a new window.

Osprey with a fish near Bear Creek in the Bitterroot

I am working on a slideshow of this Osprey. It flew over my chicken coop and landed in a snag next to it. At first I thought it was a hawk after my chickens. Then I saw the fish. I was able to photograph it out of my upstairs window. Pretty cool!

Some facts:

• One of the largest birds of prey in North America, it is one of the most widespread birds in the world, found on all continents except Antarctica.
• The Osprey eat mostly fish. Barbed pads on the soles of its feet help it grip slippery fish. It dives feet first into the water and when an Osprey takes a large fish to its nest, it carries the fish headfirst to make it as aerodynamic as possible.
• Osprey mate for life.

To see the slideshow (all photos) in a new window click Merle’s SmugMug Osprey near Bear Creek Album.

Pileated Woodpeckers near Sweathouse Creek

The Pileated Woodpecker lives throughout North America and as the third largest woodpecker, it is slightly smaller than the American Crow. The feathers appear to be black, has a long tail used as a brace when chiseling and sports the characteristic red crest.

They live in both coniferous and decidous forests living year round (they don’t migrate) round in large, dead trees called snags. Pileated Woodpeckers are monogamous, staying with the same mate for life.

For more interesting facts visit my source of information Pileated Woodpecker Central.com.

To see all the photos in a new window click Merle’s SmugMug Pileated Woodpecker Photos.

Fly Fishing the Blackfoot River in an August Rain Storm

Nick Stipich is a talented Missoula area guide and Jack loves working with him. We all had an open day so we fished the lower Blackfoot River on Friday. Fishing with guides is the best way to really know their strengths and match them up well with clients.

Our day started out nice, but we got a big rain and wind storm about noon and had some rain, wind and clouds through out the rest of the day. We caught fish on dry flies and streamers. Our faithful companions Freda and Flicka came along. We used Nick’s RO Drift boat, had plenty of room and skimmed over most of the rocks.

The slideshow below shows the trip and some of the features of the lower Blackfoot. It is beautiful!

See all the photos in a new window, click on Merle’s SmugMug Blackfoot River in August

Quail in Montana?

I tried to find this quail on the internet, but it looks like either a Gambel’s Quail or a California Quail and neither of them are supposed to range here in western Montana. If anyone has better information, comment or send me an email. They are really cute and I see quite a few on the roads and in the pastures near our Bitterroot Mountains. They move too fast for me to get a better photo so far and usually are in coveys or groups.

Click here to view all four photos in a new window

A Wild Turkey Hen and her last Chick

Yesterday on my hike, as I was walking over the top of a gentle ridge, I came around a bush and just about stepped on this wild turkey hen. She didn’t move for a second, then she flew over a pile of dead wood.

As I looked down, there was this lone chick. They usually hatch lots of chicks, so I assume she lost all the others to predators.

Our puppy didn’t see them and was out ahead of me. I hurried to catch up with her and leave this sweet little chick to its mother.

To see the three photos in a new window click Merle’s SmugMug Turkey Hen and Chick link.

Western Meadowlarks on the Bison Range – Take Two

More photos from our Bison Range field trip include Western Meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta) . Both my sister, Linda, and I took photos using my Canon. Linda took the close-ups you will see here.

The specie is a favorite around here. In fact, it has the honor of being the state bird of Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming. Sheez…

They are a member of the blackbird family. Males often use fence posts as perches while singing – actually staking out their breeding territory which can be up to 15 acres. The males have more than one mate, up to three females, nesting in their territory.

Meadowlarks are ground nesters and ground feeders eating both insects/invertebrates and some seeds.

While foraging, if they feel threatened they freeze close to the ground “disappearing” (yellow chest down and their brown and white back feathers blending) in the vegetation while casting a wary eye towards the danger.

To see all the photos in a new window, click Merle’s SmugMug Western Meadowlark – take 2

Bullock’s Oriole on the Bison Range near Moise, MT

The Bullock’s Oriole is fairly common according to Kenn Kaufman, but I haven’t seen many. This one was near a creek bottom on the Bison Range, Moise, MT.

This one is a male. It resembles the Baltimore Oriole but has an orange face, more white in the wing and different tail pattern. The female is usually orange as a female Baltimore Oriole, with grayer back, whiter belly, and darker eyeline. This bird is often less musical than the Baltimore Oriole. You will hear whistles, chatters and creaks.

Click on Merle’s SmugMug Bullock’s Oriole link to see the photos in a new window.