MY SECOND MOST FAVORITE MONTANA BIRD

Here in Northwest Montana we have an incredible variety of native birds spanning the gamut from tiny chickadees to bald eagles. Truly the area is a birders mecca.

I love so many of these birds but my second most favorite is the pileated woodpecker. This woodpecker is quite large for a woodpecker, nearly the size of a raven. They  are very colorful and, to my mind,  have almost a prehistoric, raptor look about them. They also have a very distinctive call which I greatly admire. I Googled pileated woodpeckers and nowhere did I find mentioned about their call which I found surprising. It's call is very unique and easy to recognize once you've heard it. I can't put into words what it sounds like. But, it's enchanting to my ear.

What made me think of it was I ran into a pileated woodpecker whilst walking along the Tobacco River last week. It was the call that alerted me to his presence. He was high up in a cottonwood tree right along the trail over looking the river industriously pecking away. I tried to photograph him but between me and the bird were too many branches. This was the best I could do.

Pileated Woodpecker

Over on the River Walk trail, where they have stations of education, there is this image of a pileated and a raccoon which I think is just great.

Pileated Woodpecker and Raccoon River Walk Sign

My most favorite Montana bird?  The loon.

©Kinsey Barnard

Ring-necked Duck and Chipping Sparrow

I ran into a little duck sailing on the house pond. I can't seem to identify it. At first I thought it was a goldeneye but this little guys eyes were a beautiful, bright green.  I think it might be a ring-necked duck. It clearly has a ring around it's neck and a fluffy top like this one. If it is then it isn't a guy it's a girl.

Ring-necked Duck?

I'm going with female, ring-necked duck. If anyone has a different idea please feel free to chime in.

Here she is doing a back peddle.

What was particularly interesting about this little gal was she didn't seem a bit perturbed by my presence. Normally, the ducks skeedaddle the minute they become aware of me. I'm thinking it's a response much like the deer, leading one away from the nest.  Anyway, she was a cutie pie.

I also observed a little bird that I do not recollect ever seeing here before. It was a Chipping Sparrow. For once the illustration in my bird identification was exactly like what I saw.

It was a tiny little thing feeding on dandelions in the lawn. What drew my attention to it was the chestnut cap. Had I seen that before I would have remembered.

It's always fun to add a new species to my list of observed wildlife.

The snow level last night was only a couple of hundred feet above me. We continue to have rainy cool weather.

In the "other world" the markets are in turmoil again and commodities are getting creamed. After a huge rally gold and the shares are really getting clobbered. Anyone who doesn't have any exposure to gold this may be a good time to look into it.

Those who have been buying the government propaganda that the recession is over and happy days are here again are in for a rude awakening I fear.

Dow finished the day down nearly four hundred points. Ouch!

©Kinsey Barnard Photography