Snowy Owl Safari

My dad, Addi, Landon and I took a drive to Polson to find the famous Snowy Owls. Occassionaly a few Snowy Owls will migrate as far as Western Montana, but only once every decade or so will a large number of them make their wintery home here.

When I was working with Denver Holt, an owl biologist with Ninepipes Owl Research Institute, we would sometimes be lucky enough to see a rare visitor and he would point out a white blob perched on a hay bale or irrigation piping. Usually they were too far way to barely make out the beautiful details of these large artic owls with the spotting scope.

I had high hopes of finding the owls. With my dad and his amazing eye for wildlife and my little naturalist guiding me from the back seat I was sure we would have success.

We stopped at Richwhines for a burger, fries and a milkshake. The women working there pointed us to the Skyline area of Polson. The residential area on the hill. I was skeptical we would find the birds perched among the houses. I was expecting them to be hanging out in open fields perched on farm equimpment. But we decided to trust the local advice and headed up the hill.

Sure enough dad spotted a white blob perched on the roof of a house. A bit later I spotted another one perched on hill in someone's yard.

If you weren't looking for them, they would easily go unnoticed. Looking like a snow bank.

My Little Naturalist.

 Other area wildlife.

Mountain Blue Bird, male. Literally as blue as the sky.

The Mission Mountain Range.

{March 10, 2012}

Just Another Day In Paradise

I have been away from my blog for way to long. It is hard to pick it back up. Things have settled down and just yesterday our internet was connected in our home so I can finally get back to it. I have many posts to write to get caught up, but decided to start from the most recent and work backwards!

So far Choteau is treating us well. Dylan is enjoying his new job and Addi, Landon and I have been working to get our new house set up and to get back into our routine.

Outside of town there is a sign that says, If you are lucky enough to live here, you are lucky enough. In the 2 short weeks we have been here, I would have to agree.
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We have had a few beautiful spring days since we have been here and have taken advantage of these days to explore our new home. On Tuesday we headed to Augusta to check out what the Sun River had to offer. Dylan is itching for some spring fly fishing. It was one of the most beautiful places I have been. Huge rocks cliffs, Caribbean blue waters, amazing wildlife management areas, prime Grizzly habitat and big open grassy fields.

We stopped and had a picnic.

We stopped on a bridge and noticed a trout feeding. The water was so clear I was able to snap some pictures of the fish. That is before Dylan suited up to attempt to catch him. The fish went after his fly but eluded capture!

Alongside the road on the way to Gibson Reservoir we were lucky enough to see a small herd of bighorn rams. We watched them and took pictures of them for a while. Addi was so happy they weren't frightened and allowed her to watch them from pretty close.

The Big Boy of the group!

Relaxed and grazing.

Checking us out as we watch from the car.

Dylan suited up once again, this time with Landon on his chest and fished the Sun River again while Addi and I attempted our first climb together! We walked up a shale covered hill and found a good tree to anchor to -- one I felt comfortable enough free climbing to and a face Addi felt comfortable enough to climb. I was so amazed by her natural ability. She has fear, but would take short breaks every so often to get brave again! She learned a lot this trip and when she started she tested her harness and the rope so she knew she could trust them! She did a great job looking for and placing hand and foot holds. I think her favorite part in repelling down! She was even offering me instruction on how to do it properly! She loves bouncing herself off the rocks with her feet! I had to cut her off  (so to speak!) she did not want to stop.
 

Climbing in grizzly bear county = 9 mm AND bear spray!

First Climb!

We happened to stop and unload our gear at a cliff face that was covered in ancient peoples' rock paintings. I have always been enthralled with these types of paintings. It was a very cool place.

Notice the cross shape and circle.

Notice the red hand prints.

The ticks were out in full force. I looked at Landon to see a tick crawling into his eyelashes. Dylan pulled it off and Landon cried. We think he had bit him, nasty spring buggers. We found several more on us. I hate to think how many went unnoticed.

Back home we had some dinner ... and our new favorite treat ... Kozy Shack Rice Pudding & Tapioca...  (Thanks Ember!)

Landon particularly cannot get enough!

Just Another Day in Paradise.