Cutthroat Trout

I have been busy with other work. Here is a nice fish, just for fun

Moon over the Bitterroot Mountains

This morning I couldn’t believe the sky over the Bitterroots. See how blue it was and how the moon looked so delicate and white.

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

Hike up Sweathouse in late July

It was a hot day. The creeks and river waterflows are diminishing. It rained heavily the day before and even though the seasonal streams are drying up, there were a few new “puddles” in some of the draws where everyone and everything took advantage of the water.

To see all the photos in a new window, click Merle’s SmugMug Hike up Sweathouse in late July.

Road Bike, Kayak, Camping Gear – all you need

I was pulling out on the highway when I saw this guy. I loved his get-up. I asked if he minded if I photographed him. He smiled and said, “Go ahead.”

Click here to view all 3 photos in a new window

Whitetail Buck in Velvet

This buck was moving through a field and into riparian cover. He did me the favor of stopping for a photo shoot though he was fidgeting from bugs biting him.

Click here to see my SmugMug gallery of Whitetail Buck in Velvet in a new window.