I inadvertently found a park right on the Spokane River. It is only a few miles from me. I found it while walking on the Centennial Trail; a sign pointed right and said, Corbin Park. Tango and I took the turn and walked a mile, from the urban trail through an open brushy meadow and…
Here are my best memories from my first summer in North Dakota Best nature find: Painted Turtles, roaming freely in the Turtle Mountains. Several came to visit my campsite each evening. Best garden plant: Jade green beans. I planted green beans for years. This year I ordered Jades from Territorial Seed Company and loved them:…
Late afternoon on a perfect fall day. I need a fall fix: birds are migrating, trees are changing colors, and fields are nearly harvested. I need to get out soon or I will miss out as the north rapidly transitions from fall to winter. Long Lake National Wildlife refuge, which is less than an hour’s…
According to the locals, summer in ND is short. How can that be, I thought. The growing season and frost-free dates are the same as SE Wyoming. Yet, after my first summer, I agree; summer is short. More factors come into play besides the growing season. Fluctuating day length is the most noticeable variable. Nights…
I explore the prairie uplands and discover new shorebirds and ducks most of the summer. Now, I am restless about finding something new and discovering new birds for my life list. What is nearby? The Missouri River! The banks of a major river could offer up a different terrain and corresponding new birds. This is…
Early August: too early to see signs of fall? People in Yuma still sizzle in air temperatures over 100 degrees. The beach goers in Miami simmer now in high humidity and air temps in the 90s. However, if you gaze up to North Dakota on your weather map, you will discover that night temps are…
I pack up Half Moon and Flying Cloud and set out for home by 11 AM. Tango jumps in and we head down the Turtle Mountains (plateau), towards the south. Our ultimate goal is to be home by nightfall, but I plan a long layover at Arrowwood NWR. This area, north of Jamestown, ND, is…
Bird life on the prairie is more abundant than I expected. A few days ago I drove to a small town about 35 miles west. Oh look, huge Northern Harriers swooping down on rodent prey every few miles. Another dozen or so Prairie Falcons. The cattails surrounding the ponds are full of Yellow-Headed Blackbirds. On the…
Before dusk on Sunday, a friend and I drove out in the country –just to get away and see what birds might be lurking. Alas! My first Snowy Owl. He was sitting on top of a power line pole, calmly scanning the ground for prey. I did not have my camera so the one below…
The carpet guy will finish the 3 bedrooms today. Tonight I will be in my bedroom. Living room next week, and perhaps all the floor planking (which is not in yet) next week. At the feeders this morning I found a Northern Flicker (no photo, though), a large group of House Sparrows (finch-like) and the…