- RBA
* Montana
* Montana RBA
* 12-06-2005
* MTMS0512.06
- Birds Mentioned
Cackling Goose
Long-tailed Duck
Northern Goshawk
Gyrfalcon
AMERICAN WOODCOCK
Eurasian-collared Dove
BARN OWL (possible)
Snowy Owl
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Short-eared Owl
Hermit Thrush
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Snow Bunting
- Transcript
hotline: Montana
number: 406-721-9799
to report: Terry Toppins 406-549-6027 or _tertop@aol.com_
(mailto:tertop@aol.com)
coverage: entire state
This is Terry Toppins with the Montana Birding Hotline
sponsored by Birdwatcher's Country Store at the corner
of Main and Pattee in Missoula recorded very late
Tuesday December 6th, 2005.
Owls, owls, owls are dominating discussions in Montana. At this
point it appears that we will have a good year for winter owls.
Harriet Marble reported from Chester on November 18th that there
was a SNOWY OWL near the dam at Lake Elwell and then another
was present November 22nd on Lake Elwell even though temper-
atures were in the 60's. (She also reported a small flock of
SNOW BUNTINGS the same day.) Chuck Carlson reported a
SNOWY OWL north of Nashua on the 19th, one between Ft. Peck
and Nashua on the 21st, one north of Ft. Peck on the 23rd and
another at Ft. Peck on the 27th. There are multiple reports
of Snowy Owls from the lower Flathead Valley (just north of
Flathead Lake). You can take North Somers Road out of Somers
and turn west on Manning Road and south on Farm Road
where SNOWY OWLS have been reported. Active SHORT-EARED
OWLS have also been reported in that area. SNOWY OWLS
are also being seen along Hiway 82 (the cut-across
road between Somers and Big Fork, (especially near the rustic
furniture factory) and also near the Swan Lake School.
Dan and Susannah Casey saw 2 NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS
perched on wires along old Hiway 93 between Dayton and Elmo
December 2nd. I saw a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL at Fort Missoula
across the street from the Mental Health Center on
December 5th. Brett Walker found 3 PYGMY-OWLS calling
back and forth on the Suce Creek Trailhead south of Livingston
November 23rd.
Lou Ann Harris reported her husband saw a possible BARN OWL
this morning the 6th at their home north of Bozeman.
I am not sure of the exact date, I believe it was December 1st, but
a cat belonging to James Hicks in Dillon showed up with a live
AMERICAN WOODCOCK in it's mouth. The bird was rescued,
fed some worms, and was released.
Fritz Prellwitz reported having 30 EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVES
north of his house in Malta on the 30th of November and at least
8 daily since.
Lou Ann Harris saw a flock of about 30 SNOW BUNTINGS on
Raynolds Pass on the Montana-Idaho Border on December 1st.
Larry Weeks reported finding a HERMIT THRUSH on Sleeman's
Island at Fort Missoula November 30th and also a SPOTTED
TOWHEE at the State Lands Nursery in Missoula the same
day.
Patrice saw a VARIED THRUSH in Greenough Park in Missoula
on December 3rd along the "Foot Traffic Only" path and I saw
one Nov.16th on Spurgin Road near the road into the Kelly
Island Fishing Access.
Jean Robocker who lives on Egan Slough on the Flathead River
near Kalispell had a FOX SPARROW in her yard she
reported Nov. 18th.
Nov 27th Georgia Frazier went to Yellowtail Reservoir and found
a male LONG-TAILED DUCK. Alan Nelson found a LONG-TAILED
DUCK between Giant Springs and Rainbow Dam near Great Falls
Nov 17th.
Nov 21st the Deer Lodge Valley Birders toured the valley and
had great views of a NORTHERN GOSHAWK.
The next day Nate Kohler found a GYRFALCON near the
Warm Springs Ponds.
The same day (the 22nd) Jim Brown saw a GYRFALCON near
Fairfield chase and knock down a Snow Goose - but it was unable
to make the kill.
Bob Rost and group had a CACKLING GOOSE at Boettcher
Park in Polson on the 19th.
The following is a brief summary of Christmas Bird Counts
and contact information I have at this time:
Dec 14th Ft. Peck - Monty Sullins - _msullins@mt.gov_
(mailto:msullins@mt.gov)
Dec 17th Billings- Monty Sullins - _msullins@mt.gov_ (mailto:msullins@mt.gov)
Dec 17th Missoula - Larry Weeks - 549-5632 - _bwsgenea@onlinemt.com_
(mailto:bwsgenea@onlinemt.com)
Dec 17th Big Fork - Dan Casey - 857-3143 _caseys4@centurytel.net_
(mailto:caseys4@centurytel.net)
Dec 17th Dillon - Gary Swant - _safe@imine.net_ (mailto:safe@imine.net)
Dec 18th Ninepipe - Jim Rogers - 883-6531 x 247 - _jrogers@polson.k12.mt.us_
(mailto:jrogers@polson.k12.mt.us)
Dec 18th Roundup - Monty Sullins - _msullins@mt.gov_ (mailto:msullins@mt.gov)
Dec 26th Ennis - Radd Icenoggle - 522-4237 - _ricenoggle@rightnow.com_
(mailto:ricenoggle@rightnow.com)
Dec 31st Warm Springs - Gary Swant - _safe@imine.net_ (mailto:safe@imine.net)
Jan 1st Kalispell - Dan Casey - 857-3143 - _caseys4@centurytel.net_
(mailto:caseys4@centurytel.net)
If you have sightings you would like to share please leave a message ]
or call Carole or Terry at 549-6027. Thanks, Happy Holidays, and
Good Birding New Year to you! HL-254
- End Transcript
* Montana
* Montana RBA
* 12-06-2005
* MTMS0512.06
- Birds Mentioned
Cackling Goose
Long-tailed Duck
Northern Goshawk
Gyrfalcon
AMERICAN WOODCOCK
Eurasian-collared Dove
BARN OWL (possible)
Snowy Owl
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Short-eared Owl
Hermit Thrush
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Snow Bunting
- Transcript
hotline: Montana
number: 406-721-9799
to report: Terry Toppins 406-549-6027 or _tertop@aol.com_
(mailto:tertop@aol.com)
coverage: entire state
This is Terry Toppins with the Montana Birding Hotline
sponsored by Birdwatcher's Country Store at the corner
of Main and Pattee in Missoula recorded very late
Tuesday December 6th, 2005.
Owls, owls, owls are dominating discussions in Montana. At this
point it appears that we will have a good year for winter owls.
Harriet Marble reported from Chester on November 18th that there
was a SNOWY OWL near the dam at Lake Elwell and then another
was present November 22nd on Lake Elwell even though temper-
atures were in the 60's. (She also reported a small flock of
SNOW BUNTINGS the same day.) Chuck Carlson reported a
SNOWY OWL north of Nashua on the 19th, one between Ft. Peck
and Nashua on the 21st, one north of Ft. Peck on the 23rd and
another at Ft. Peck on the 27th. There are multiple reports
of Snowy Owls from the lower Flathead Valley (just north of
Flathead Lake). You can take North Somers Road out of Somers
and turn west on Manning Road and south on Farm Road
where SNOWY OWLS have been reported. Active SHORT-EARED
OWLS have also been reported in that area. SNOWY OWLS
are also being seen along Hiway 82 (the cut-across
road between Somers and Big Fork, (especially near the rustic
furniture factory) and also near the Swan Lake School.
Dan and Susannah Casey saw 2 NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS
perched on wires along old Hiway 93 between Dayton and Elmo
December 2nd. I saw a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL at Fort Missoula
across the street from the Mental Health Center on
December 5th. Brett Walker found 3 PYGMY-OWLS calling
back and forth on the Suce Creek Trailhead south of Livingston
November 23rd.
Lou Ann Harris reported her husband saw a possible BARN OWL
this morning the 6th at their home north of Bozeman.
I am not sure of the exact date, I believe it was December 1st, but
a cat belonging to James Hicks in Dillon showed up with a live
AMERICAN WOODCOCK in it's mouth. The bird was rescued,
fed some worms, and was released.
Fritz Prellwitz reported having 30 EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVES
north of his house in Malta on the 30th of November and at least
8 daily since.
Lou Ann Harris saw a flock of about 30 SNOW BUNTINGS on
Raynolds Pass on the Montana-Idaho Border on December 1st.
Larry Weeks reported finding a HERMIT THRUSH on Sleeman's
Island at Fort Missoula November 30th and also a SPOTTED
TOWHEE at the State Lands Nursery in Missoula the same
day.
Patrice saw a VARIED THRUSH in Greenough Park in Missoula
on December 3rd along the "Foot Traffic Only" path and I saw
one Nov.16th on Spurgin Road near the road into the Kelly
Island Fishing Access.
Jean Robocker who lives on Egan Slough on the Flathead River
near Kalispell had a FOX SPARROW in her yard she
reported Nov. 18th.
Nov 27th Georgia Frazier went to Yellowtail Reservoir and found
a male LONG-TAILED DUCK. Alan Nelson found a LONG-TAILED
DUCK between Giant Springs and Rainbow Dam near Great Falls
Nov 17th.
Nov 21st the Deer Lodge Valley Birders toured the valley and
had great views of a NORTHERN GOSHAWK.
The next day Nate Kohler found a GYRFALCON near the
Warm Springs Ponds.
The same day (the 22nd) Jim Brown saw a GYRFALCON near
Fairfield chase and knock down a Snow Goose - but it was unable
to make the kill.
Bob Rost and group had a CACKLING GOOSE at Boettcher
Park in Polson on the 19th.
The following is a brief summary of Christmas Bird Counts
and contact information I have at this time:
Dec 14th Ft. Peck - Monty Sullins - _msullins@mt.gov_
(mailto:msullins@mt.gov)
Dec 17th Billings- Monty Sullins - _msullins@mt.gov_ (mailto:msullins@mt.gov)
Dec 17th Missoula - Larry Weeks - 549-5632 - _bwsgenea@onlinemt.com_
(mailto:bwsgenea@onlinemt.com)
Dec 17th Big Fork - Dan Casey - 857-3143 _caseys4@centurytel.net_
(mailto:caseys4@centurytel.net)
Dec 17th Dillon - Gary Swant - _safe@imine.net_ (mailto:safe@imine.net)
Dec 18th Ninepipe - Jim Rogers - 883-6531 x 247 - _jrogers@polson.k12.mt.us_
(mailto:jrogers@polson.k12.mt.us)
Dec 18th Roundup - Monty Sullins - _msullins@mt.gov_ (mailto:msullins@mt.gov)
Dec 26th Ennis - Radd Icenoggle - 522-4237 - _ricenoggle@rightnow.com_
(mailto:ricenoggle@rightnow.com)
Dec 31st Warm Springs - Gary Swant - _safe@imine.net_ (mailto:safe@imine.net)
Jan 1st Kalispell - Dan Casey - 857-3143 - _caseys4@centurytel.net_
(mailto:caseys4@centurytel.net)
If you have sightings you would like to share please leave a message ]
or call Carole or Terry at 549-6027. Thanks, Happy Holidays, and
Good Birding New Year to you! HL-254
- End Transcript