Feathers and Feet

I recently spent a week in southeastern Montana--a grand finale to birthday month and summer kickoff.  This is the part of Montana occasionally referred to as "the middle of nowhere."  Some of the state "highways" out there are still gravel.  I didn't know that was a thing.  They were in better condition that the paved highway between Alzada and Ekalaka though.  

We rented a forest service cabin for the bulk of it and then went backpacking for a couple days.  I spent four nights by myself in the cabin, since Matt couldn't really take days off yet and the college is now on summer session so its easy for me. 

I actually managed to forget about the pandemic while I was out there.  There was no one to keep my distance from.  I didn't go anywhere except the great wide open.  I didn't read about it or see the news or talk to anyone.  Whew!  

I had plenty of company though, mainly in the form of my avian friends.  I thought I'd round up some photos of them to share.  All photos from Cornell's All About Birds guide.

Lark Sparrow

Black-billed Magpie

Violet-green Swallow

Red Crossbill

White-breasted Nuthatch

Wild Turkey

American Crow

American Robin

Mountain Bluebird

Western Meadowlark

Redhead Woodpecker

Ring-necked Pheasant

American Goldfinch

Black-capped Chickadee

Yellow Warbler

Bullock's Oriole

Mourning Dove

Brewer's Blackbird

Eastern Kingbird

Turkey Vulture

House Wren

Black-headed Grosbeak

European Starling

Gray Catbird

Northern Flicker

American Kestrel

Common Grackle

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Red-tailed Hawk

Hairy Woodpecker

Great Horned Owl

Red-winged Black Bird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Bobolink

Sandhill Crane

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Spotted Towhee

Killdeer

Birds are the coolest.  Best.Neighbors.EVER.