On the Road and In Your Backyard

Good Morning All,

As we move closer to the new site launch, I wanted to remind you to submit things now via the form or to hold off until the new site is live.  The old email address is dead and until the new site is live, there’s no replacement for now. I hope to change that later today.

Ok, it looks like my concern about the new site launching very soon is a bit off, sounds like it will be a week or more, not days. I’ve got a bunch of submissions, mostly multiple sets from a few folks. Please do continue to submit pictures, but don’t feel like it must be now.

Have a wonderful day, and enjoy the pictures!

 

Today, pictures from valued commenter Albatrossity.

I recently took another trip to the northern prairies, through the flooded fields of Nebraska and the waving grass of the Sandhills. Once again I ended up in far northwestern North Dakota, an underpopulated and underappreciated corner of America. Here are 5 images from that journey; 5 more will follow in another submission.

I would also like to add that if any of you jackals would like to have any of these images (or an image from previous groups) as the background wallpaper for your computer monitor, send me a note at grosbeak57 at gmail dot com with the information about the resolution of your monitor screen and the information about which image you’d like to have. I may not get to it immediately, but I will be happy to send you the image of your choice in the dimensions that fit your screen.

Taken on 2019-06-25 00:00:00

Little Missouri National Grassland, near Belfield ND

The target species for most birders who visit this part of the country would be the Baird’s Sparrow. It is, like most sparrows, cryptic, furtive, and dependent on a habitat that is disappearing. On my last trip I was unable to convince one to sit for a portrait. This time I was more fortunate; I blundered into a pasture with about a dozen of these beauties on a calm morning with perfect dawn light. Here’s one of quite a few shots I managed to get.

Taken on 2019-06-23 00:00:00

Lostwood National Wildlife refuge, near Kenmare ND

Black Terns are the most common tern in the marshes and pothole lakes in North Dakota. They are elegant, noisy, and quick on the wing. But fun to watch, and fun to photograph. Here’s one giving me the side-eye as it zipped past.

Taken on 2019-06-22 00:00:00

Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge, near Kenmare ND

Common Yellowthroats are indeed common across much of North America, and the lakes and marshes of North Dakota are no exception. This stunning male was singing his cheery witchety-witchety song and pretty much ignored me as I shot his portrait.

Taken on 2019-06-23 00:00:00

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge, near Culbertson MT

Marbled Godwits spend their winters on the coasts of California, Mexico, Texas, Florida and the southeast Atlantic states, acting pretty much like a regular shorebird. In the summer however, they nest on wet prairies in the Dakotas, Montana and Canada. Like most shorebirds they get a bit uppity when you get too close to a nest or a youngster. I never saw a nest or youngster, but this adult bird was definitely telling me to go away!

Taken on 2019-06-22 00:00:00

Lostwood National Wildlife refuge, near Kenmare ND

The Wilson’s Phalarope is the landlubber of the three phalarope species, spending summers on prairie marches and lakes and winters on alkali lakes in South America; the other two phalarope species winter at sea. All of the phalaropes reverse the usual sex roles; this colorful bird is a female; the males are much duller. In addition, the females merely lay the eggs and leave the male to incubate them and care for the young. I was very happy to spot this gorgeous bird in a spot that also had the reflections of the prairie pothole vegetation.

 

Thank you so much Albatrossity, do send us more when you can.

 

Travel safely everybody, and do share some stories in the comments, even if you’re joining the conversation late. Many folks confide that they go back and read old threads, one reason these are available on the Quick Links menu.

 

One again, to submit pictures: Use the Form