And the best shot I got while I was gone (he says with a wry smile.)
I cut my Montana/Idaho camping trip short for the following reasons:
- Birds were incredibly scarce. Blog reader and western MT resident Judy Gusick warned me that most of their birds had left a week or two ago. I should have listened. On this trip I was essentially bird-skunked.
- The entire area was more dry and dustier than I’ve ever seen it. With no wind it was so dusty that if I passed another vehicle on a dirt or gravel road I sometimes had to stop and wait nearly 10 minutes for the air to clear so I could proceed. That got old real fast. You can imagine what my new pickup looks like, inside and out.
- It was more crowded than I’ve ever seen it up there and that’s largely due to COVID-19. Everyone including aunt Martha and her dog are out camping or enjoying the outdoors in other ways as a way of temporarily and safely escaping the effects of the pandemic. Campers were everywhere as were woodcutters, hunters, fishers, folks on ORV’s and just plain sightseers. I went up there largely for the solitude and there wasn’t any.
- Yesterday morning minutes before sunrise this view from my campsite on the mountain put me over the edge. For the first day and a half I’d been there the skies had been clear of smoke but the predictions were that smoke would move in during the day and here we see a layer of it moving in from the south and east. In this view we should be able to see the Tetons in the far background but they’re already hidden by the smoke.
It was all too much so immediately after this photo was taken I started packing up and then headed for home.
I did see a few birds while I was there. Flocks of Yellow-rumped Warblers were migrating through, there were still many Western Bluebirds in the area and I found a clump of bushes loaded with Cedar Waxwings pigging out on berries but they were back lit. And in all my trips to the area I’ve never seen so many Sage Grouse. It must have been a good year for them.
But I didn’t get any good photos so I deleted the few I took before I left the mountain. Then Lady Irony stepped in.
I took this photo of a bathing female House Finch very soon after I got off the mountain on my way home. Take a wild guess where I took the photo.
At the RV Dump Station in Dubois, Idaho for gawd’s sake! As I always do I’d stopped in tiny Dubois to gas up and dump my trailer tanks and this bird was bathing in water dripping from the culinary water source right next to the sewer dump. While my tank was draining I grabbed my camera on a whim and took this shot. It turned out to be my best one of the trip.
So, I went up there looking for wildness and solitude but the best shot I got was taken at a dump station in a small town on my way home.
That says a lot about my trip.
Ron
I got photos from another blog in Tofino and it is very smoky. Sorry to hear about your trip. Seems like everyone is heading for the hills these days. The smoke is being carried right across Canada by a jet stream, probably the same for you. It is hard on the migrating birds. But, alas, your photo is delightful!
It might be a good thing that that a lot of folks are out enjoying nature instead of sitting around watching tv.
They might think real time nature is fantastic and worth protecting.
(Actually, I have often wondered what do people do that aren’t birders?)
As for me, every day that I can go birding is better than staying inside! Even House Finches can be beautiful.
Ron, sorry to hear about your shortened trip. Based on your comments I find the hoards of people to be worse than the smoke. Hopefully the smoke with subside, but afraid the people won’t. Glad you are safe.
I’m afraid you’re right about the people, Alice.
There are days I guess. Your picture did turn out great…I love the water drops flipping up in the air. My Hubby didn’t go on his annual fishing trip in the Bishop area. He had overheard more people where there then usual due to the COVID. Hopefully next year will be better.
Jean, my RV dealer told me about a week ago that this has been the biggest, busiest year in the history of their dealership. And they’ve been around for a long time.
Boooo hiss on you having to cut things short. 🙁 Disappointment is thick as smoke, I suspect.
I just read a very sad news story about migratory bird deaths here in NM. They think it is the smoke but they are still investigating.
For what it’s worth I think it’s the smoke too, Arwen.
Your disappointment is thick…I feel it for you…I invite you to join me in my, “At Least” game, that I invented to try and keep my sanity in these so very challenging Jay/trump times. When things are particularly depressing, Say to my self, “At least… then try to think of something positive(often a real challenge but I usually can…eventually)…
Sounds like some real pollyanna crap, but sometimes it helps…
If it works that’s all that matters, Patty.
Sometimes it does…
Sorry your trip was a bust, except for the sweet little finch bathing. But at least she was a bright spot.
I know I’m so bummed right now I don’t know where to turn. It was bad enough before I broke my leg and now it’s exponentially worse! I don’t have my dogs and birds to refocus on the magic.
Travel carefully and we’ll get through this time one way or another!
I’m so sorry to hear this…hope you heal well and fast.and get back your magic…without my animals, I’m depressed, only and lost..they are my pejuta(medicine),,,👍🤟🍀😍
That should read, “Lonely ad lost”…sorry…
Laura, your comment is another one that helps put my disappointment in perspective. I hope you get out of that place you’re in VERY soon.
Having broken my collarbone last March just before losing my beloved cat, you have my utmost sympathy/empathy & best wishes for the speediest recovery possible, Laura, so you can get back to your animals & the magic they bring! ♥️
On the other hand – my fishing trip planned for tomorrow in the Gulf of Mexico has been postponed due to a hurricane.
Following your inspirational photograph of a House Finch (which are scarce around here) once you left your mountain paradise, I’ve decided to go to the beach anyhow and stand in the blowing rain hoping for hordes of migrating birds to be blown off course by the storm toward my waiting lens. The wife says I’m an “eternal optimist”.
Hoping the world calms down soon and allows all of us who have not lost our minds to wander around in the outdoors to gaze up into the trees once again.
Your postponement puts my trip in perspective, Wally. It could have been worse.
Ran a ski trip for a bunch of middle and HS students,,,one kid got a boot top fracture, which hurt like Hell…later, another kid, in the lodge’s ski shop, hit his thumb with a hammer…it hurt like Hell…Big or Small, hurt is hurt…
Welcome back Ron and thanks for keeping us in the loop while you were away. Love your little girl having her bath. About a week ago I got some shots of a female Osprey having a bath in what we call Arsenic Bay, water polluted from an old mill. She was having a grand time until the Crows annoyed her. We are really blanketed in from wildfire smoke from Washington where I have heard one small town was completely burned out, very sad, hard to breath here so can well imagine those poor people there. A suggestion to me for anyone doing wildlife photography, make a trip to Tofino on Vancouver Island, you won’t be disappointed.
Yeah, Vancouver Island is one of the few places west of the fires. Good point, Shirley.
At some point in time you’ll be laughing at the irony (at least I hope you will). She’s a cutie — “I wash my feathers of this whole affair!” I also hope that you found some enjoyment in being out in nature and seeing those stars and moon, even if you couldn’t scratch all the itches.
Glad you made it back safely. How did the camper do?
🤟😊👍
No problems with the camper, Marty. I was really glad to have the furnace work properly this year. You may remember it malfunctioned on my first trip with it last year so I had to have it repaired.
Welcome home? Well, glad you got there and back safely, but sorry the trip turned out to be such a bummer. Such is 2020. Would that all this stuff is restricted to 2020, but I fear not. 🥺 Glad the little house finch got to enjoy its bath in the “culinary” water puddle, could have been much worse for him, I’m sure!
Chris, there were several finches and a robin bathing in that water. I think it suited them just fine.
I am so sorry to read this – and love the House Finch.
Irony is a beast with sharp and nasty teeth if you happen to be on the receiving end.
I’m on the receiving end far too often, EC.
Well I mean the smoke did NOT move into the mountains.
Sorry your trip did not work out, but you did get out to try your camper and new pickup. I knew the Big Horn Mountains would be full this year with campers and trailers and 4 wheelers, so did not go up very much. The Moose and Elk could be seen early spring and then they took off for high country. One thing this year the smoke did move into the mountains. One thing you can start planning for next!
Trudy, one good thing I learned on my trip is that my new pickup really does get better gas mileage than my old one. Pulling the trailer that saved a lot of gas. And money.
You never know until you go.
Yup, and it can turn out either way.
Your highlight…. a sparrow at the dump station 😳❗️ I’m sorry but I really needed that smile this morning 😁
This will be our 4th week of smoky skies… these fires don’t seem to be ending soon…
Diana, I was hoping the circumstances of my finch photo would bring a smile or two from my readers. That would at least be something positive.
What i know for sure is: “These be strange times, Mate”.
No argument from me, Nina.
I’ve been able to cope so far despite the pandemic, unhealthy air from fires, social unrest, the current administration, etc. But knowing your trip was such a bummer (well, that and my tomato yield was bupkis this year) has really got me in a funk. I guess we can look to the House Sparrow for inspiration to make the best of it.
House Finch🥴
Oh no, a poor tomato crop! Now that would be a REAL bummer. We’re having BLT’s tonight – can hardly wait.
Ron, sad to hear that your trip got cut short but I am not that surprised. Have you seen the reports of mass die-offs of migratory birds in New Mexico? There is a suggestion that it may be related to the widespread fires.
Yes, I’ve been reading about it, Patrick. From the get-go it was my suspicion that smoke might be responsible.
Your experience brought to mind the year I went to the Arkansas mountains to enjoy the autumn colors and found them shrouded in dense fog the entire time I was there. It’s hard not to be frustrated at such times. Still, you did get that house finch –and didn’t experience any road troubles.
Yes, the House Finch, the night sky and a safe trip helped my attitude. But not enough…
Sorry to see that Ron. You sounded so enthusiastic the other day before leaving. Bird skunked when you needed instead to be smoke skunked. On Friday morning here I was able to take direct shots of the sun without a filter due to the thickness of the smoke, cloud cover, haze, dust, and whatever else made up our skies. Every early morning that I am out I am running into more deer and coyotes due to the drought. There is no water in most of our creeks so they all have to get to the lakes for water. And of course our lakes are all in bad shape and urgently in need of lots and lots of rain.
I know what you mean about taking direct shots of the sun in this smoke, Everett. But it still makes me very nervous to aim my gear that way. A friend of mine fried his camera when his lens was accidentally aimed at the sun.
Sighhhhhhhh. “Haze” moved in some yesterday afternoon – breeze “danced” here most of the day – cloudy/hazy this morning and red flag warning for tomorrow. Don’t know where it was but seems I remember an “article” on the Centennial Valley earlier in the year – appears the word is out – selfish BUT…….. 😞 Strange year weather wise and the dry with all the fires going is NOT good. Is a giggle on the bathing house finch tho…….. 😉 At least you got to “see” the stars and moon. 😀
Yes, that’s part of it too, Judy – that area of MT has been ‘discovered’ in recent years by far too many.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Good for you for making he trip!
Richard, the problem with that scenario is that I ventured quite a lot.
At least you got to enjoy the night sky! And it was a safe trip. i think for the meantime, people’s lives have changed and they are seeking nature…time will tell if it’s for the good and will be a different way of life.
You’re right, Kathy. The moon and those stars were incredible and I made it home safely. Thanks for reminding ol’ gloomy Gus about that.
Bon courage…to all!
Your posts are an uplift and pleasure. I’m so fortunate surrounded by what almost seems to be a huge green wall of trees around our home in the NE.
Thanks again, Ron.
Yes, you folks back east have a lot to appreciate this year, Mary.
Tough, no fun when you are looking for solitude and everyone else is looking for the same thing! You gotta do what you gotta do!!
Yup, even here in middle VT the sunset pictures I put on my facebook page show the affects of the fires in the west. Bad for you all, but the images were beautiful. There is something evil about that.
Glad you are safe!
Thanks, Dick. It’s crazy that you’re seeing western smoke that far east but this year I’m not surprised.
What a bummer! Still, a change of scenery is always nice. The best-laid plans, etc.
Yup, Robert Burns had this trip pegged…
Sorry to hear this Ron, after all your preparations. Well, at least the House Finch provided some relief.
Some relief but not nearly enough, Kenneth.
I think I’ll try that, Patty. Thanks.
Ron, I guess we will all have to appreciate more common delights and look in unexpected places. Where were you in MT that you saw the smoke from western fires? How can anyone deny climate change affecting the severe drought CA has been experiencing?
I was near Monida.