It's almost fall on the Grove Creek

At the end of the summer and before the fall, the wildlife are getting ready for the change in weather. The young bluebirds that were born this spring are maturing but they will not get the vibrant color that we are used to until later as you can see by this one in a nearby tree,

One its buddies returned to the nest. You can ask how I know it returned to the nest where it was born and I say look at the color of it's feathers. If it's a male it will become vibrant. If it's a female the color around the head and eyes would be gray.

The sand hill cranes usually arrive in late March or early April. They mate for life and typically they will produce one or two off spring. This is a proud mama and papa strutting their stuff.

However, it's getting close to time to head south. This is a whole group with the one in the middle giving exercise lessons getting them ready for the long trip. The two of the left are trying hard, the one on the right is watching while the little one is probably one of this years offspring and is in the learning process.

and of course we have deer, who don't migrate but are careful at this time of the year that we don't interfere with their fawns. You can see this lady was trying to hide from me when I got near her with my camera.

As fall gets nearer and it starts to cool, there will be more.

Surprises as I approached the Grove Creek

Every year I have observed female deer along the Grove Creek, which is south of our home. They have  fawns in the late spring and I watch them with my telescope as they graze in the pastures near the creek. With my telescope I have been able to determine the female is nursing based on the size of her utter. This is a photograph I took of one of the females from our deck with 400mm zoom lens.

I purposely avoid getting near them as the fawns are young to avoid scaring them and perhaps getting them injured. However, I said, now is the time to take my camera and get a close up of the fawns. I head toward the creek and all of a sudden, the first surprise. Ahead of me along the fence was a small yellow and black bird. I had not seen these before, so I had to take some photographs. This was the first one I captured.

It was a goldfinch. When I got back to the house, I learned that this little bird sheds these beautiful colors in the winter time. I had seen them in their winter colors around the barn but didn't know what they were. They left the fence and were flying around in the pasture, when I captured this image of one of them perched on this old sunflower.

So on to the creek. As I get closer, I seen two fawns. It must be another deers baby. I am getting closer and no long need the zoom lens to see the fawns. Now there are three fawns and I was guessing that the female that was near, must be in charge of the babies. This is the photo I took the the group.

Mother is in the lower right of the photo and the fawns are at the top. Now for the surprise. As I got closer, mother became alarmed and must have alerted the fawns, as they all took off together. Surprise - this mother must of had triplets as the entire entourage headed over the nearby hill and were gone. If these babies belonged to someone else, they would have headed to where their mother was. As they followed this mother, I gave her the nod as being the mother of all three.

Clint Teegardin is now 75

It was only 25 years ago that Clint was joined by his mother, his three children -  Susan, Jeff, and Jennifer, Jeff's wife Nadine, and the photographer, Clint's wife Marty. It was a great celebration and surely no one at this time would have guessed that the 25th Anniversary of this event would be held at Montana Jack's in Dean, Montana.

The living participants from above were in Westport, CT, Boulder, Co, and Columbus, Oh while the crowd at Jack's sang Happy Birthday to Clint and enjoyed the food and the toasts. This is what the birthday boy looks like 25 years later as he is accompanied by his wife Marty. The photographer was Dana Teegardin from Georgia who was visiting with her daughter and enjoying the horses.

As the wine glasses were raised and a toast to the birthday, Clint invited everyone in attendance to the next 25 year celebration when he will be 100.  So as you read this blog, mark it down on your calendar for July 7, 2038 that you have been invited to Clint's century birthday.

A FUN TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.

SEE YOU IN 2038

Fishtail Family Fun Day, 100th Anniversary

This year represented the 100th anniversary of the city of Fishtail, Montana. There has always been a Fishtail Family Fun day but this year was special to celebrate the 100th year. As Clint chatted with Kay Johnson, Lowell and Ruth Quenemoen's granddaughter who is visiting for the next 6 weeks, he asked if she had every been to the Fishtail parade and fun day. She said, no, so Clint suggested that she and Marty ride in the parade. At the end of a long conversation and debate, the Circle B Bar T would participate with the following:
                   * our theme, "We are family"
                   * in the context of family fun day, the family would be Arabian horses
                   * Grover, the sire, Johnny, the brother, and Ruby, Grover's daughter
                   * the riders would be Kay Johnson, Marty Baxter, & Wendy Bleacher
                   * Clint would lead the group, wear his fancy jacket with Grover's picture & carry Grover's              
                      picture jumping

We departed 15 S. Grove Creek Road at 10:15 AM to be ready for the 11:00 AM parade. Clint was all decked out with his coat and the sign.

and when you observed the back of the coat, what did you see, but Grover.

The girls were attired in the official Fishtail Centennial t-shirts and once they mounted the horses they all had helmets, riding trousers, and black boots.

So the people on the parade route would know our theme, signage had been prepared for the reverse side of the t-shirts. Of course the theme was "we are family" but an added description necessary to identify the horses as you can see from this photograph.

and just as we were preparing to get in line for the parade, another family member arrived to participate in the parade. When Grover was still a stallion, we had donated his semen to be sold at the Fishtail Family Fun Day and one of our neighbors had purchased it. The result of that transaction was hitched to a cart and was another entry in the parade. Grovers daughter is the horse on  the right side.

The parade of course went down the main street of Fishtail. It then turned around and went back to the Grove Creek road where it started. This is a scene of the downtown area and the parade.

and of course the family was ready to participate. Clint's biggest challenge was to get 3 women and 3 horses to pose photography all at the same time. What a challenge. This is the best I found from the images that I captured.

as we were returning to the truck and trailer to load up and return home, it was announce that the winner of the horse and rider group was none other than the Circle B Bar T family. One last picture, please smile and pose for the photograph with the trophy.

Kay is holding the trophy, Grover is thanking Wendy for featuring him, Marty has that proud smile and Ruby is still tired from here journey from Ohio to be in Montana for the summer with Kay.

Baby robins, growing fast

It started on June 25th. Go back to the prior posting to see what I captured on that day. Since then I have captured more photographs of the babies in the nest and I am amazed at how fast they are growing. But before we share with you their current status, I will report that on the 26th I went to the nest where the older babies were to see if they were acting like they wanted to leave the nest. The next was empty and they were gone. So I spent the next hour looking at all of the places they could have fallen and perhaps not made the trip. No sights of babies. Since then I have seen at least one if not both of them. I can tell by their fact that they do not fly like the adults. And now to the new babies.

The first photograph you saw was the beaks peeking above the nest. Not so in this photograph. I captured 4 of them (there are 5 in the nest). They were waiting for mom to return with some food. I was a couple days later that I got a picture of mom at feeding time with the babies. Compare the images of the babies in these 2 photos and see how much they have developed.

 If you think they are developing or perhaps maturing (i.e.: each day), look what's next. Best case I can only see two or three when I look at the nest. The only time I can see more is when an adult is visiting the nest with food. The reason I say adult is because, I just noticed an adult leaving and another adult arriving with more food. I'm guessing it's mom and pop who are sharing the feeding duties. Just like you saw the black bird in the prior post, the adult robins are bringing grasshoppers to the nest.

 Now here is the surprise. The picture below was taken on July 1st and they are already big enough to get outside the nest. Yes, from the little beaks to the fully feathered ready to fly in only 1 week. I have been to the nest several times today, July 2nd, and they are still all in the next, but based on the experience with the other nest, they will soon be gone.

Stay tuned as I will have at least one more update on their status and anything else I can learn about the maturing of baby robins.

Young Robins at the Circle B Bar T

If you have been watching the blog, you are aware that there are robin's on the Circle B Bar T. To date you have observed mature birds as they are found around the ranch and in our trees. There have always been nests, eggs, and babies around the house, but I have never taken the time to capture them before they flew away. That changed when I observed two nests. One which was a pair of young ones who will be flying away very soon.

Here they are, sitting in their nest. The grown ups are still responsible for their food but you can tell by their size, it will not be long before they test their wings.

 This is the same two, they are not as relaxed as in the prior photo. I'm not sure if they are testing their voice boxes, telling the adults that it's time for more food or maybe a stretch just before they take off. It's 25 feet to the ground, so they must be strong before they make their first flight.

I was sitting in the family room, watching television, when I saw a nest under the deck. As I watched there were 4 heads popping up, mouths open and perhaps calling for food. As I watched, an adult would arrive and feed them and fly away. Initially, I thought the adult was the same robin, but when one departed and another arrived, I was able to determine it was pair who where minding the nest. I did want to spook the adults so I used my zoom lens from afar to capture the above image.

 When the adults were away from the nest, I got closer and got these 2, peering out of the next in hopes that they could see more food on the way. You ask, what were they being fed? I'm not sure - - - - but sometimes it was a mouth full and other times it appears like it might have been just enough for one mouth. As I was doing the photography, I was able to find this blackbird, perched on a fence post with something in it's mouth.

 A close observation indicated it was a grasshopper. I have not seen enough blackbirds to control the grasshopper population, but I'm sure whoever is being fed these morsels, they will not starve. Hopefully
I can keep you updated with the maturity of these young robins.

Easter Bunny, Lookout

The first sight was Papa Mountain Bluebird, perched in the a nearby tree, his lady on a nearby branch, and I am sure they were wondering what led them back here for the summer to have their next brood. They were shivering, the bugs that they have been feasting on since their return were hibernating somewhere else. We'll keep our fingers crossed that you have put enough twigs in your bird box that you can tolerate the next few days.

and then as we looked out the back door toward the driveway, all I could think of was how is the Easter Bunny going to make the rounds in Montana. And if this didn't give you concerns, then look at the weather forecast for the rest of the week. Can you image the bunny trying to make the rounds with all of this snow.

After you got past the driveway and looked to the west, it was just more snow.

and then I looked to the pasture where we had just fed the horses. They have not had hay for the last 2 weeks as the pastures have been producing wonderful new grass. Although they had no choice of diet as the new grass was covered with lots of snow. Poor Easter bunny.

These pictures remind you of what the Circle B Bar T looks like in the middle of the winter, not like a spring day in April. This is certainly not the latest spring snow that we have had in Montana but we're ready like most of you for spring to come and stay.

Red sky in morning, sailors take warning

If the old adage has any validity, we, Montanan's are about to get a blast. Five days in a row, starting with December 24th we had red sky's in the morning. We wished you a Merry Christmas with the image we captured on the 25th and the morning sky continued like this through the 28th. The snow is supposed to start later today, the 29th.

So, what are the animals doing? Up to now the weather has been mild for those who live outdoors. They have enough fur and wool to survive many degree's below zero, therefore our recent weather has been enjoyed by all. We did have a visitor on our deck recently. This is not a pet, this is a wild animal. Perhaps it came to the deck to test the alternatives if there was any truth to the "red sky in morning". We didn't put it there, it must have jumped up by itself and stayed there for several hours.

Traveling on the roads around Fishtail was another scene. There has been an abundance of deer carcasses on the side of the road. One can only assume that a visitor over the holidays was zooming down the road to celebrate with friends or family and accidently hit the critter as it was crossing the road. But it was not just one critter, within a 8 mile loop I have spotted at least a half dozen. I got a call on the 27th by one of the gals who helps with chores that she passed 4 bald eagles, feasting on a deer carcass about 2 miles from our place. She was suggesting that I head there with my camera for some photography. When I arrived there was only one remaining and it must have had a belly full as it was perched in a nearby tree and the crows, ravens, and magpis were getting their turn.

I gradually got closer to the eagle, not wanting it to take off, and to capture a few different poses with my camera. I'd take a few photo's, drive closer, take some more photo's until I was almost directly under the tree where it was perched. Can you tell by the look it it's head that there was something on the ground (me) causing a disturbance for the wildlife. I thought I was doing well and wanted to stay around to see if any of the others might return. WRONG, Look what happened next, and guess who was ready with his camera for the action.

and yesterday, as I left Fishtail to return home, I spotted 2 bald eagles in a tree, just as I turned onto the Grove Creek Road. I stopped and took a couple pictures, but the one's I took the day before were much better. I then became curious, was there another carcass along the road and these guys had there belly full already. Within a couple thousand feet, I saw what was happening. It was either a golden or a young bald (they don't get the white until they are 3 or 4 years old) enjoying dinner and sharing it with some crows and magpis. The next picture is of the eagle as I had gotten too close and it flew to a nearby fencepost. The the real truth was lying on the ground. It was not a deer, it was a skunk. This is what an eagle looks like after chowing down on a skunk and I'd guess the 2 bald eagles I saw nearby had decided to wait for a better meal.

There is plenty of hay in the corrals for the cattle, sheep, and horses. If we get the snow with the cold that has been predicted, everyone is ready.

HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEARS
Marty & Clint

Individuals in Montana, not the way you expect it. . .

For the last several weeks as we have driven down the Grove Creek Road toward Fishtail, I have noticed a calf in the same pasture as the neighbors sheep. Each time I passed, my curiosity caused me to look for the mother cow, which I never saw. Yesterday, I asked the nieghbors if they knew there was a calf in with the sheep, and if they did, where was it's mother. What I was told, is not what I expected. This was a "bum" calf, it had no mother. In addition to bottle feeding the calf, they decided to put it in with the sheep. They were hoping it would bond with the sheep and ultimately be the protector of the sheep, very similar to the role of a llama. The picture shows the competitors, the llama and the calf.
Come spring we will have to return to the pasture and check out the role of the calf as well as it's relationship with the llama. Sort of strange seeing a calf with no other cattle in a pasture with several hundred head of sheep and a llama.

As I have been working around the barn for the last several weeks, I have noticed a little bunny. Yes, it is quite small and very young. As I watched and observed it's actions, I believe it has found a home under the hay that we are storing for the horses. Recently, it has started to pose for me, I couldn't wait any longer, ran to the house and got my camera and zoom lens, not knowing how close it would allow me to get. This is hunting season, but this critter is too small for the hunter, but it is staying close to the barn to hide from something. and what would you expect to see in another one of the pastures as you drive toward Absarokee. You are probably guessing, sheep or cattle, wildlife could be deer, or perhaps some horses. Wrong. There is a pasture that has been full of sheep, every year for the last 19 years. There are no sheep in it today. This is one of 3 small burrows that is in control of the acreage. No signs of sheep. This guy and his buddies are about the size of the calf and definitely smaller than the llama.

As we all know, Thanksgiving is just 2 weeks away. I'm sure that you are already thinking about where you'll be enjoying the feast and what you'll be eating. Just as we are about to prepare for the big occassion, guess what reappears on the Circle B Bar T ranch? Answer, the turkeys. The flock is not as large in numbers as last year. I counted 15 in total, but they look very healthy. For those of you who like dark meat, no white meat, not even the breast, you should come to Stillwater County and take one of these beauties home for Thanksgiving. If you prefer white meat, ie: the breast, then continue your plan to purchase or grow locally.

The latest arrivals at the Circle B Bar T

It was just 8 weeks ago that a Great Dane gave birth to a beautiful liter of brindle puppies in the state of Washington. Marty and Clint located their owner, Dawn Houston, and purchased not one but two of the new puppies. A young man named Baxter and a pretty female named Emma. After flying from Washington and then by auto from Billings, Baxter and Emma soon discovered the front lawn at the Circle B Bar T. They have already brought joy into Marty and Clint's life healing their broken hearts. They two will grow quickly as they are already over 20 pounds each. Unless you will be visiting soon, they may be full size by the time you come to visit.

The first morning on the ranch they were invited to the barn to help with morning chores. The horses walking down the aisle were more initimidated by the puppies than the puppies were of the horses, almost 50 times their size. The temperature was cool and the puppies soon discovered the tack room and the bed that Ruthie the cat typically occupies. The caption of this photo is, "there is no room for Ruthie"

Kenya has missed her pal for the last 6 years, Mr. Barlo. But it didn't take long for Baxter to invite himself to the space most often occupied by Barlo. Within a very short time, Baxter was snuggled up close to Kenya, filling the void left by Mr. B. As you may or may not know, Kenya had to have one of her front legs removed after a diagnosis of cancer and is recovering from the operation of less than a week ago. She has welcomed Baxter and Emma and has accepted them as part of the family. There will be more about Barlo and Kenya in postings to follow.

Who invited you?

It usually happens about once a year, it is usually in the summer, and a critter that is not common to our part of Montana, appears on the scene. Yesterday, I got a call from a neighbor who had spotted the bear in one of our pastures as they drove by our ranch. I quickly grabbed my camera and got a couple pictures before it headed north across the road and up the hill.

Where it had been and where it was going is anybody's guess. A bear normally has a range of 10 square miles and the rate at which it was running across the pasture, it was in a hurry to get somewhere else.

It did not appear as if it had been on our property very long, as the horses who shared the pasture where I saw the bear were not aware of it's appearance and the horses in the adjoining pastures were calm and under control as well.

Look what we found just walking around

A hike in the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park. We were on our way to visit a wolf den that was dug close to 10 years ago by one of the first females after the re-introduction of the wolves to have pups. To the east we saw bison or if you prefer buffalo, we tripped across several huge antlers from elk, we have seen bears roaming in the area, of course there have been wolves and coyotes. But this day as we were leaving the empty den, someone spotted a bird in a tree. Is that a bluebird? I think it is. As I tried to get a photograph, I was on the wrong side of the tree, the sun was creating a shadow. If I walk around when the sun is providing the ideal light on the subject, will the subject still be there. In the wild, most birds are not used to a photographer roaming around the tree looking for the perfect place to take a photo. Today, I was lucky and this is what I got. So now it's back to the bus and on to our next stop. You will not guess what I found along the way. In the 2 million acres of Yellowstone, you expect to see wildlife, mountains, and beautiful terrain. How about a flower, proudly sticking it's beautiful bloom out of the field, and instead of tripping over it or accidently stepping on it, I took a photograph.

Have you been to Woodbine, along the Stillwater River? If you did, the first thing you saw was the Stillwater River, in the spring as the water flowed from the melting snow in the Beartooth Mountains, in late summer early fall, the beauty of the mountains and a stream still providing water that could end up some day in the Gulf of Mexico. Maybe you were planning on catching a trout, perhaps just a hike, or maybe you hoped to see some wildlife; maybe a moose, or a bear, or a bighorn sheep. Not on this trip, and camera was focused on something you may have seen but would not have said that's why you took the hike. How about this beautiful flower?

and only a few steps away was another one. These are just a few of the pretty plants that appear during the year, and at times there could be an entire landscape with them rather than a random plant here and there.

What would you expect to find in our barn, certainly an Arabian horse, maybe a new saddle, how about a blue ribbon or a trophy, Ruthie the cat or her sister Martha might be home, Barlo or Kenya our 2 great dane dogs, or do you have a new foal. None of these. I have been observing a bird nest being built in one of the eaves in the area where we store the hay, the nest was finished, the female bird was sitting on the next, then it appeared that there might be young ones. Then one day, I see beaks appearing at the top of the nest. I waited, and I waited, then I brought my camera to the barn and took this picture.

Most people what not want these you barn swallows in their barn, but I let nature take it's course. I'll tear down the nest after they leave and hope their family will find a tree or someone else's barn to build a nest next time. I stayed around hoping "mom" would return with some food. I didn't have to wait long, and this is what appeared.

Every one who has seen this photograph was asked, who got the food. If you guessed the second from the left, you are right. In fact "mom" had her head completely inside that ones mouth as she deposited the food.

Just walking around you can see some interesting sites.