HummerDays!

 

What Is A Barn Owl Doing Here?

Saturday's drama, a Barn Owl was trapped in the basement at the Fort Missoula Military Museum, reported to me yesterday by Tate Jones, curator. We climbed around down there with flashlights and found it 30 feet back in an impossible spot to retrieve. Tate decided to just open the door to the stairs, light pouring in, and an hour later, out flew the bird, did a few laps over the museum and flew away! We were discussing military history for a half hour, thank goodness, so witnessed the escape. Barn Owls are quite rare in these parts, especially underground in basements.

Female Rufous

 

Hummingbird Haven

A couple dozen hummers in the yard for a week now and today's fight between a Rufous and Black-chinned, bumblebee in the background.

Hummer Kick-Boxing

 

3 Months Old Today

 And our 41st tour of the year, Man O Man.

Bass Creek 2009

 A photo by Keith Fialcowitz, checking out a Peregrine eyrie!

Waspy Shot

Wonder what this is, I guess a wasp. I love the Kaufman "Field Guide to Insects of North America," my favorite. Check out page 304 that talks about how blow flies are used in criminal forensic science to determine time of death! 

Misch In Training

 Flying on a line from perch to perch, to lure and to glove. Today Nico dropped a stick at her feet a few times for her to toss. I am not kidding. Smart dog.