Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
MOB-Montana group:

Wow!  Fourteen entries for the May Photo of the month contest, a record I think.
Please vote once for the photo of your choice.  You can change your mind until
the contest closes at the end of the day on June 5th.  Its pretty difficult to
choose from all of these great entries.

Patrick Toomey
Moderator/Owner

   o American Avocet
   o Calliope Hummingbird #1
   o Calliope Hummingbird #2
   o Ferruginous Hawk
   o Great Horned Owl
   o Lazuli Bunting
   o Osprey #1
   o Osprey #2
   o Prothonotary Warbler
   o Red-naped Sapsucker
   o Sora
   o White-crowned Sparrow
   o Wilson's Phalarope
   o Wood Duck


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOB-Montana/surveys?id=12771319

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

I had a female Williamson's Sapsucker drinking in my bird pond on
Saturday morning here east of Columbia Falls.  This is only the second
time I've had one in eight years of watching (first one was a male two
years ago)

Pete
Columbia Falls

Mob,

Things have slowed up as far as warblers with just a few species over
the last few days including Blackpoll, Mourning, Tennessee, &
Yellow.  This morning I spent a couple hours birding with Mike Lesnik
north of Westby.  We had very nice views of N. Sharp-tailed Sparrow
(MT bird for Mike) & Baird's Sparrow on the State Line WPA.  While
there, I heard and then located a FOY Sedge Wren.  In the park there
was a White-throated Sparrow (late) and this afternoon I had two
Purple Martins fly over town.

Ted Nordhagen
Westby MT

Since nobody has reported one for the big list yet, we saw several
west of Choteau yesterday.....added it to the big list.
Dave Williams
Great Falls

From: Dave Williams

To: MOB-Montana@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 7:38 AM

Subject: [MOB-Montana] McCown's Longspurs

Since nobody has reported one for the big list yet, we saw several
west of Choteau yesterday.....added it to the big list.
Dave Williams
Great Falls

Liz, Nora, and I also had McCown's Longspurs on the Bellview rd out of
Choteau on May 27, 08. They put on a great show and one just stood and let
us look at him for ages. Arla Eckert Great Falls

MOB-sters:

True to form, the last usual migrants are showing up around 1 June here
in the Flathead. I had a Red-eyed Vireo during my visit to Owen
Sowerwine on Saturday, and two Willow Flycatchers at Wiley Dike near
Somers yesterday, 1 June. Nighthawk should be next (last).

Dan Casey
Somers

Hi MOB,

Back in a drizzly Sidney with internet access. Added one warbler,
Blackpoll male & female, to my Westby list; but the days were not
long enough to get full benefit from the other woodland birds,
pothole ducks, sandpipers and grassland species.

Highlights of the trip:

29 May (Thur) Red Eyed Vireo, 152 Rd south of Culbertson.

30 May (Fri) Three hours of thick fog at the bridge S of Dagmar with
numerous Marsh Wren popping up and down and an almost sneaky Sora.
When the fog lifted a bit I went back east 1/4 mile and got my big
list White-rumped Sandpiper.  A few miles southwest of Westby an
unexpected but always looked for Burrowing Owl flew up from his road
intersection shoulder burrow and promptly landed on a pipeline marker
for long term looks.

31 May (Sat) A short eleven mile round trip on N Stateline Rd
produced 46 species with great looks at a Feruginous Hawk.

1 June (Sun) As mentioned by Ted, we got absolutely perfect looks at
Baird's Sparrow (second ever for me), the Nelson's Sharp-tailed
Sparrow - big list -, and a closeup Prairie Falcon.  Too bad the
Sedge Wren was on the wrong side of the N Stateline RD.

Departing Westby for Brushlake State Park via S Stateline Rd, I
almost immediately got my first in two years Grasshopper Sparrow - on
both sides of the road.  At Brush Lake a single Black Tern was
perched on one of the "Slow" buoys.

2 Jun (today)  Based on a tip from Ted, a three hours "Tern Watch" at
the Culbertson FAS (MT 16 bridge) produced 7 Forster's in the first
few minutes, two more after 2 hours and finally a Least hovering &
swooping as it slowly foraged it's way out of sight upstream.  A few
minutes later as I left my post a female Woodduck flew by.  Driving
away 30 minutes later a second Least flew steadily upstream.

Close to 100 species for Sheridan County - about 60 in just QQLL 12B2.

Thanks to all for the proof that there are C Nighthawk in Montana.
Maybe before I get to Billings.

Mike

Mob,

Late yesterday, I spent a few minutes in the park visiting with Bart
Whelton (Spokane).  Bart reported seeing an A. Redstart, Tennessee
Warbler, C. Yellowthroat & Philadelphia Vireo. While I was there, the
Philadelphia Vireo reappeared and a Mourning Warbler came into the drip.

Ted Nordhagen
Westby

Heard my first Common Nighthawk flying over Sidney Sunday afternoon.
The Chimney Swifts are still here and have increased their numbers to
9.  Usually I just see three at the start of the season.  Swallows
have finally made there way here.  Had Barn Swallows ~ 1 week ago, but
yesterday saw the first of either Violet-green or Tree Swallows.  They
were flying with the swifts.  I didn't have the time to get back over
to where they were with my binos.

Sunday's birding was fruitful but it was just across the border.
Birds don't recognize our borders - should we when it comes to
wildlife observation!!  I can't imagine the mess that would ensue if
we tried to keep tabs without borders.  I guess we could set up
habitat regions then section those.  rambling here.

Mo
Sidney, MT

Hi MOB,

A three hour hike in a cottonwood bottom on a return visit to southern
Richland Co produced 35 species of birds and about the same number of
ticks.

Topping the day was a 15 minute obsevation of a pair of Field Sparrow,
followed shortly by a male E Bluebird carrying food to a nest and a Red-
headed Woodpecker that flew over and perched in plain sight just as I
got back to the county road.

Mike

Sharon,
I am in rush right now but wanted to point you to the NE MT Birding Trail
website.  Also, you can stop by or call the refuge and we can help line you
out here a bit.
http://www.montanabirdingtrail.org/maps/r2/t1/r2t1.php

Good Luck!  Beth

Beth Madden, Biologist
Medicine Lake NWR Complex
223 North Shore Road
Medicine Lake, MT 59247
406/789-2305 ext. 105    FAX 406/789-2350
http://medicinelake.fws.gov





              "Sharon
              Dewart-Hansen"
              <smdhansen@bresna                                          To
              n.net>                    <MOB-Montana@yahoogroups.com>
              Sent by:                                                   cc
              MOB-Montana@yahoo
              groups.com                                            Subject
                                        [MOB-Montana] Northeast Birder's

              06/03/2008 08:46
              PM


              Please respond to
              MOB-Montana@yahoo
                 groups.com






Giving a shout-out to Northeast Birder's. After the festival in Billings
this weekend, my husband & I are heading NE for a couple of days. We will
be in Plentywood Sunday night and plan on spending Monday in Westby and
surrounding area. Then start heading back on Tuesday. Would appreciate any
tips on where to go and what time of day is best for those areas. Any other
help would be greatly appreciated.



Thanks,

Sharon Dewart-Hansen
Great Falls, MT

Looking out the window at the box-elder I saw some bird that was different.
Got the glasses on it and found I had a Red-eyed Vireo feeding. A new yard
bird for me. I have been having over 25 Mourning Doves in the yard. Arla
Eckert Great Falls

It is gray and wet out here today but I have a wave of sunshine showing up
in my yard today and they are going for the sunflower seeds. Male American
goldfinch with a few females mixed in. Arla Eckert Great Falls

MOB-sters:

Yesterday morning I had the extraordinary experience of seeing 4
apparent Chimney Swifts mixed in with the large resident flock of
swallows and Vaux's Swifts over Breezy Point in Somers. My first
impression, and expectation, was that the larger, longer-winged swifts
would be Black Swifts, but closer inspection revealed they were not
black (nor white-throated), not large enough, and that their flight
habits were intermediate between the more plodding flap and glide of
the Black, and the more bat-like flight of the Vaux's (which were
available for direct comparison. These birds were most unexpected, and
are unprecedented here. I did not see them again last night or this
morning.

I will be submitting this extralimital record to the Montana Bird
Records Committee for consideration.

Dan Casey
Somers

----- Original Message -----

From: Dan Casey

To: MOB-Montana@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 11:28 AM

Subject: [BULK][MOB-Montana] Chimney Swifts - Somers

MOB-sters:

Yesterday morning I had the extraordinary experience of seeing 4
apparent Chimney Swifts mixed in with the large resident flock of
swallows and Vaux's Swifts over Breezy Point in Somers. My first
impression, and expectation, was that the larger, longer-winged swifts
would be Black Swifts, but closer inspection revealed they were not
black (nor white-throated), not large enough, and that their flight
habits were intermediate between the more plodding flap and glide of
the Black, and the more bat-like flight of the Vaux's (which were
available for direct comparison. These birds were most unexpected, and
are unprecedented here. I did not see them again last night or this
morning.

I will be submitting this extralimital record to the Montana Bird
Records Committee for consideration.

Dan Casey
Somers

I posted a pic that I believe is an American Redstart Male in his first year
plumage. He sang
and sang and sang, even had a few females around him, but since I've only
photographed the
adults in the past, I thought I'd post the shot just to make sure ... In other
words, can fellow
Mobsters help me out?

For what it's worth, he was along lower McDonald Creek in Glacier Park.

PPS — I don't know if anyone has mentioned it, but I'm pretty sure there's at
least two pairs of
Bullock's Orioles at the National Bison Range.

The following MOB-Montana poll is now closed.  Here are the
final results:


POLL QUESTION: Wow!  Fourteen entries for the May Photo of the month contest, a
record I think.  Please vote once for the photo of your choice.  You can change
your mind until the contest closes at the end of the day on June 5th.  Its
pretty difficult to choose from all of these great entries.

Patrick Toomey
Moderator/Owner

CHOICES AND RESULTS
- American Avocet, 2 votes, 4.44%
- Calliope Hummingbird #1, 2 votes, 4.44%
- Calliope Hummingbird #2, 0 votes, 0.00%
- Ferruginous Hawk, 0 votes, 0.00%
- Great Horned Owl, 9 votes, 20.00%
- Lazuli Bunting, 9 votes, 20.00%
- Osprey #1, 3 votes, 6.67%
- Osprey #2, 1 votes, 2.22%
- Prothonotary Warbler, 11 votes, 24.44%
- Red-naped Sapsucker, 0 votes, 0.00%
- Sora, 2 votes, 4.44%
- White-crowned Sparrow, 2 votes, 4.44%
- Wilson's Phalarope, 2 votes, 4.44%
- Wood Duck, 2 votes, 4.44%



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Hi MOB,

Wednesday I finally found a C Nighthawk - flying at mid-day - while I
was observing a Tennessee Warbler and Red-eyed Vireo in a road side
thicket. Now for a Long-billed Curlew.

Lark Bunting were very numerous along the county roads west of Terry,
north of the Yellowstone.

Little Porcupine Rd was not a good place to be during the frequent
showers.  After getting back on pavement at Forsyth, I've decided to
postpone further exploration of that area until fall.

Mike



Back on pavement

Last night I saw several common nighthawks in Helena in the Ft.
Harrison area.  Also 5 great horned owls, including one young owl that
had flown into a barbed wire fence and wasn't feeling so hot.  I
checked on it this morning and couldn't locate it, so remain somewhat
optimistic.  Had Swainson's Thrush in the backyard, a first for my
yard.  Pine Siskins finally showing up in good numbers in the yard, as
are cedar waxwings.

Took a run out to Benton Lake yesterday afternoon. Found a Lark Bunting M.
which is the first time I have seen one in that area. Borrowing Owl put on a
great show. Also found the Loggerhead Shrike in the windrow area both going
in and coming out. It was fun to see the Franklin Gulls and White-faced Ibis
nest building on the islands. The Chestnut-collared Longspurs were up
singing. The Marsh Wrens were food hunting big time. Had a great time taking
photos of Marbled Godwits and some very tame bunnies. Arla Eckert Great
Falls

Today Jeff Marks and I were south of Bannack looking for Gray Flycatcher
nest and eagle eyed Jeff found one. The bird was sitting on 4 eggs. We found
what we thought was 4 or 5 old Flycatchers nests. I am sure Jeff will give a
full account of the weekend when he gets back to Portland Monday.
Steve Sherman

Had the pleasure of watching and photographing a couple of Ring-necked
Pheasants jousting yesterday East of Nashua. If you care to view the
gallery the address is:

http://www.alanscheer.com/pheasants/

May take awhile to load on dial-up.


Alan Scheer
Wolf Point

Hi Folks,

Back from the sweltering heat of the midwest. I was eager to return to the lower
humidity
and cooler temperatures... but did not expect the amounts of rain we
encountered. Alzada
was quite wet! The Powder and other rivers were running very full.

As I was driving with my 15 year old daughter, several things limited my
decisions and
ability to bird.

However, on Hwy 212 east of Busby .3-.5 miles east of hwy marker 34 a male
Northern
CArdinal sat on the north side shoulder of the road and then flew up before we
reached
that spot crossing ahead of us... but not by a lot. So my first Montana Cardinal
was not a
specimen. He flew to a group of shrubs on the south side of the road.

WE did not linger as both of us were eager to return to Choteau and get out of
the car after
a total of 1590 miles....

Annie commented that in her previous visits (ALL in August) there has never been
snow on
the mountains here and that she does not remember it being green.

My Mountain Bluebirds have deserted their house, Say's Phoebe is not here
either. so there
must have been a substantial bit of rain. I'll be checking on my filming
subjects soon.
All my Best and Great birding,

Tim Barksdale
Birdman Productions &
MundoAveLoco!
Choteau, MT

Dear Montana Birders,
   We're planning a trip to Glacier for late June to early July. We're
spending one night apiece at Lake McDonald, East Glacier, and Many
Glacier. We'll also be in Whitefish for several days at a conference.
It's possible we might swing through the Blackfeet Indian Reservation
(Mission Lake) and the Kalispell/Bigfork vicinity.
   I have Terry McEneaney's book Birding Montana as our primary guide.
I've also been lurking on the MOB website and searching the archives
for sightings.
   We'd welcome any additional information you might share with us
including your favorite trails, reliable places for target birds,
hints for finding target birds, etc (or even your favorite dining
spot!). Thanks in advance... and we might see you in the field!
   Here's a list (we'd be delighted just getting 1/2) of our target
species:
   Red-necked Grebe
   Northern Goshawk
   Gray Partridge
   Spruce Grouse
   Blue Grouse
   White-tailed Ptarmigan
   Sharp-tailed Grouse
   Boreal Owl
   Black Swift
   Calliope Hummingbird
   Three-toed Woodpecker
   Hammond's Flycatcher
   Dusky Flycatcher
   Boreal Chickadee
   American Dipper
   Varied Thrush
   Sprague's Pipit
   Bohemian Waxwing
   Cassin's Vireo
   Lazuli Bunting
   Baird's Sparrow
   LeConte's Sparrow
   McCown's Longspure
   Cassin's Finch

Sincerely,
Ann Oliver
Cincinnati