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The Road Home

Luna and I had a great visit in Montana. We did well at our first agility trial and even though we did not get any qualifications, we showed improvement throughout the weekend and had a couple of ‘clean’ runs. We will try it again sometime. Luna loved playing with her new buddy, the puppy – Gus! All things come to an end so we said our goodbye’s and headed down the 400 miles of road to home.

 

 Gus and his people

 

 Luna, we need to get going.

 

Serviceberry and pines

 

Balsamroot, serviceberry and pines

 

Lilypads on a pond in Idaho

 

An ancient apple tree in bloom shows that someone once tried to make a life in this wild wet place in Idaho

 

 

Montana Life

Crazed springtime weather brings a little bit of everything. We adapt. Luna likes her new puppy pal Gus. Tomorrow is our big day. Wish us luck.

The famous used book store in Alberton

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Lots of blooming shooting stars

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Snow in thr Bitterroot Valley

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Happy black dogs

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A nice morning hike in the hills

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Bitterroot mountains across the way

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A rainy afternoon at Mary’s house

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Tired dogs

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On the Road Again

Luna and I are on the road to visit friends in Montana. Today was a gorgeous day to be on the road with enormous fluffy clouds and blue skies for background. Many raptors everywhere we went. Bald Eagles, kestrels, ospreys and more.  I could have spent the whole day birding and making images!

First stop – the Carlton Store

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The Columbia River at Pateros

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See that marmot teasing Luna?

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Chief Joseph dam

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Douglas County

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Grand Coulee dam

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Great clouds

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Cool blind for bird watching at Reardan Ponds

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Welcome to Idaho

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Lots of water in Idaho. That is a road. It is next to the very cool rails to trails project – the trail of the Coeur d Alenes

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Looks like a person could still ne skiing at Lookout Pass

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The Clark Fork, a tributary of the Columbia

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Wildflowers on our Hillside

I managed to get in one wildflower walk last week after the big rain. Everything was sweet smelling and lush with new growth. Lots of birds and insects to amuse the ears and eyes and pollinate the flowers too. This is the time of year when change happens constantly as the hillsides become more green with new grass, the flowers add color and the light changes all day long. Spring is a time of renewal for all of the senses.

 

Balsamroot

 

Waterleaf

 

Lupine – waiting for sunshine and warmth before it shows us its lavendar petals

 

Shooting Star

 

More Balsamroot

 

Serviceberry bushes have covered the hillsides with their white flowers like frosting on a cake!

 

A honey bee on a waterleaf. Another portrait of this bee may be seen at my other blog.

 

Leaves of a Bitterroot grow and disappear before the delicate flowers appear.

 

Never too much Balsamroot

Fishing Familiar

Ken referred to this bird as his ‘familiar’. Most evenings when he was surf fishing in Florida, a Great Blue Heron would join Ken, waiting for a piece of bait or a small fish or some other tasty morsel. The bird was quite tame and would walk up to within five or six feet of Ken. It had obviously done this before with other anglers. It could tell when Ken caught a fish and it seemed disapproving when Ken was not having good luck.

The plumage on the heron was fascinating and easily studied at close range. I never before noticed the red feathers on the ‘elbows’ (do birds have elbows?) or the black streaking on the front of the neck and I’ve look at lots of Great Blue Herons over the years. The red feathers must be part of the wing coverts or possibly the alula.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bird would poke around to find his own food when fishing was slow

 

It took the catch to the water to rinse it before swallowing it whole