Hoary Marmot

We have been fortunate to observe four different species of Marmot in our travels. Our first encounter with Marmots took place in Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado. I remember being very enthralled watching and listening to all the Yellow-bellied Marmots while hiking in the mountains. Unfortunately all the images I have of Yellow-bellied Marmots are on film.

Our next encounter was the Olympic Marmots in Olympic National Park Washington. Also recorded on film.

However we have encountered Hoary Marmots a fair number of times while hiking in the Canadian Rockies and I never get tired of their playfulness.

The Hoary Marmot has thick, silvery-gray fur on its head, shoulders and half of its back. It has reddish-brown fur on the back half of its back, its rump and on its long bushy tail.

It has black feet, a white patch of fur between its small, round eyes and white fur around its nose and mouth. It has small ears and long, curved claws on both its front and hind paws.

The hoary marmot can be found in Alaska south to Washington, northern Oregon and most of Montana and parts of Idaho.

Spruce Grouse

The Spruce Grouse is a dapper species of evergreen forests in northern and western North America. Males are brown-black with neat white spots and, during displays, a searing red eyebrow comb. Females are intricately scaled with brown, buff, and white.

These chickenlike birds eat mostly the needles of fir, spruce, and pine, an aromatic diet that makes them unpalatable to many hunters. Spruce Grouse are famous for their tameness around humans—they’re sometimes known as “fool hens”—but this works well for bird watchers hoping for good views. Cornell All About Birds

Ruffed Grouse

The dappled, grayish or reddish Ruffed Grouse is hard to see, but its “drumming on air” display is a fixture of many spring forests. It can come as a surprise to learn this distant sound, like an engine trying to start, comes from a bird at all.

This plump grouse has a cocky crest and a tail marked by a broad, dark band near the tip. Displaying males expose a rich black ruff of neck feathers, giving them their name.

We have certainly heard more Ruffed Grouse then seen. Their drumming sound is a definite crowd pleaser when heard out on the trail.

Rock Ptarmigan

The hardy Rock Ptarmigan nests as far north as there is land in the world. This chunky grouse wears two kinds of camouflage: it’s nearly all-white in the snowy winter and mottled brown in the summer.

Male Rock Ptarmigan stay white until they’ve finished courting females, and then intentionally dirty their plumage to hide from predators until they have molted into a safer (but less dashing) brown plumage. Their feathered feet help them to walk on deep snow and to dig snow burrows and tunnels for refuge from severe cold. Cornell All About Birds

Willow Ptarmigan

A master of camouflage, the Willow Ptarmigan is snowy white in winter and an intricate mix of reds and browns in summer. This rotund grouse of subarctic tundra lives year-round in areas where most bird species can survive only during the warmer months.

We observed these Ptarmigan while camping in Alaska.

Ptarmigan are well suited to brutally cold winters, using heavily feathered feet to walk over deep snow, and excavating snow burrows in which they take shelter from the elements. 

Perhaps because their camouflage is so good, wild ptarmigan often act tame and unafraid of people. Cornell All About Birds

White-tailed Ptarmigan

 

White-tailed Ptarmigan are small, tubby grouse, snow-white in winter and twig-brown in summer. They’re famous for being virtually invisible when they stand still against the windswept rocks, low shrubs, and snowbanks of their high-mountain habitat.

They nest above timberline in the alpine tundra of western mountains, and are the only birds in North America that spend their entire life cycle in these very high elevations.

We've encountered Ptarmigan quite a few times while hiking in the Rocky Mountains. Including finding three very young chicks that blended in extremely well with the mountain flora.

Their feathered feet and dense plumage enable them to walk on top of snow and even roost inside snowbanks.

Black-billed Magpie

 

Black-billed Magpies are another common bird to see when travelling out west. 

Black-billed Magpies are familiar and entertaining birds of western North America. They sit on fenceposts and road signs or flap across rangelands, their white wing patches flashing and their very long tails trailing behind them. This large, flashy relative of jays and crows is a social creature, gathering in numbers to feed at carrion. They’re also vocal birds and keep up a regular stream of raucous or querulous calls.

Historical records of the American West indicate that Black-billed Magpies have been associates of people for a long time. Magpies frequently followed hunting parties of Plains Indians and fed on leftovers from bison kills. On their expedition, Lewis and Clark reported magpies boldly entering their tents to steal food. Cornell All About Birds

Bighorn Sheep

 

One of the most common sightings while hiking in the Rocky Mountains are the Bighorn Sheep. It’s pretty cool encountering them while hiking along the snowline at higher elevations.

The bighorn sheep is the larger, wild relative of the domesticated sheep. Males are called "rams" and have long spiral horns, while females, called "ewes", have shorter, spike-like horns.

The coat is short, coarse and typically brown with white areas on the muzzle, the back of the legs and around the rump. Once a year, the sheep will shed its hair to reveal a new coat underneath.

The bighorn sheep's most important asset is its hoofs. The front hoofs are slightly larger than the hind. Each hoof has a hard rim on the outer edge with a soft, concave area in the middle, which gives the sheep excellent traction on steep, rocky terrain.

Bighorn sheep are social animals and live in groups of anywhere from 10 to 100 sheep. They generally live separately in groups of rams and ewes, but mingle in the fall during the mating season.

The bighorn sheep grazes on grasses and vegetation that is available in its rugged habitat on mountain slopes.

Rocky Mountain Goat

 

A cool mammal to encounter while hiking at elevations in the Rocky Mountains are the Rocky Mountain Goats.

Mountain goats are not true goats—but they are close relatives. They are more properly known as goat-antelopes.

These surefooted beasts inhabit many of North America's most spectacular alpine environments. They often appear at precipitous heights, from Alaska to the U.S. Rocky Mountains, showcasing climbing abilities that leave other animals, including most humans, far below.

Mountain goats have cloven hooves with two toes that spread wide to improve balance.

Rough pads on the bottom of each toe provide the grip of a natural climbing shoe.

Mountain goats are powerful but nimble and can jump nearly 12 feet in a single bound. National Geographic

Northern Flying Squirrel

 

We have also witnessed Northern Flying Squirrels in the western United States. They are found in coniferous and mixed forests across much of Canada and west to Utah in the United States.

Flying squirrels don’t fly like birds but rather glide from tree to tree. They are proficient gliders but uncoordinated walkers on the ground. They feed on a variety of plant material as well as tree sap, fungi, insects, carrion, bird eggs and nestlings.

Pronghorn

 

The pronghorn is a unique North American mammal. Its Latin name, Antilocapra americana, means "American goat-antelope," but it is not a member of the goat or the antelope family and it is not related to the antelopes found in Africa.

The pronghorn is the only surviving member of the Antilocapridae family and it has been in North America for over a million years! Natureworks PBS

American Badger

 

The American Badger is a short, sturdy member of the weasel family. It is the only type of badger that lives in North America. Badgers have the long body, short legs, and scent glands characteristic of the weasel family.

The American Badger is gray, with dark legs and bold black and white stripes on its head and face. Badgers are built for digging. Badgers have long strong claws and a streamlined skull enabling them to create these dens and dig prey out of burrows. Badgers also have a second (transparent) eyelid which can be closed to protect the badger’s eye from dirt.

We observed this Badger in Yellowstone National Park a couple years ago. It is the only time we have observed a Badger and it was a fleeting glimpse. Despite our best effort we were unable to relocate this Badger for a better image.

American Bison

 

Although most of my American Bison images are on negatives todays images are from a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park.

Like Walmart, the Yellowstone door greeter.

The American Bison, also commonly known as the American Buffalo, once roamed North America in vast herds.

Historically their range was described as a tract of grassland stretching from Alaska to Mexico.

They nearly became extinct in the 19th century due to overhunting. Population went from in excess of 60 million in the 18th century down to just 541 animals by 1889. Recovery efforts have led to a current population of roughly 31,000 wild bison today.

We have observed Bison many times through the years in both Canadian and U.S. National Parks however the most memorable was in Custer State Park South Dakota. We took the kids on a trail to an outlook overlooking a massive herd of wild Bison grazing. Just to listen to the herd grunting and groaning in the valley below was incredible.

Another memorable experience was on our first visit to Yellowstone where upon after making camp we were all sitting at a picnic table when a huge Bison walked over and settled into a mud puddle twenty feet from our table. Flies and all unfortunately.

Steller's Jay

 

Another western bird we observed many times was the Stellar's Jay seen here in Bryce Canyon National Park Utah. 

Steller’s Jays are birds of coniferous and coniferous-deciduous forests. In the southwestern U.S. and Mexico they also live in arid pine-oak woodland. You’ll typically find them at elevations of 3,000-10,000 feet, and lower down in the evergreen forests of the Pacific coastal foothills. During irruptive movements in some winters, flocks may move through unusual habitats such as Sonoran desert.

A generalist forager, Steller’s Jays eat insects, seeds, berries, nuts, small animals, eggs, and nestlings. Around people, they also eat garbage, unguarded picnic items, and feeder fare such as peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet. With large nuts such as acorns and pinyon pine seeds, Steller’s Jays carry several at a time in their mouth and throat, then bury them one by one as a winter food store. Steller’s Jays are opportunists and will steal food from other birds or look for handouts from people. Cornell All About Birds

Common Raven

 

Not just large but massive, with a thick neck, shaggy throat feathers, and a Bowie knife of a beak. In flight, ravens have long, wedge-shaped tails. They're more slender than crows, with longer, narrower wings, and longer, thinner “fingers” at the wingtips.

Common Ravens live in open and forest habitats across western and northern North America. This includes deciduous and evergreen forests up to treeline, as well as high desert, sea coast, sagebrush, tundra, and grasslands. They do well around people, particularly rural settlements but also some towns and cities. Cornell All About Birds

Gambel's Quail

 

Continuing on with some of the western birds we have observed in our travels is the gorgeous Gambel's Quail. I photographed this bird while in Arizona on an owl prowl and must admit I had to look it up in my Sibleys Bird Guide book to identify. Beautiful colours and I just love the topknot of feathers.

Gambel’s Quail are gregarious birds of the desert Southwest, where coveys gather along brushy washes and cactus-studded arroyos to feed.

Males and females both sport a bobbing black topknot of feathers. The male’s prominent black belly patch distinguishes it from the similar California Quail. This ground-hugging desert dweller would rather run than fly—look for these tubby birds running between cover or posting a lookout on low shrubs. Cornell All About Birds

This is a beautiful bird to see sitting on a fence post early morning and I remember how lucky I felt to observe and get this image.

American White Pelican

 

One of the largest North American birds, the American White Pelican is majestic in the air. The birds soar with incredible steadiness on broad, white-and-black wings. Their large heads and huge, heavy bills give them a prehistoric look. On the water they dip their pouched bills to scoop up fish, or tip-up like an oversized dabbling duck. Sometimes, groups of pelicans work together to herd fish into the shallows for easy feeding. Look for them on inland lakes in summer and near coastlines in winter.

This image, one of my favourite American White Pelican shots, was taken in Yellowstone National Park. We have witnessed the massive migration across the U.S. Midwest in the springtime where the fields are full of Sandhill Cranes and all the ponds American White Pelicans.

Northern Shrike

The burly, bull-headed Northern Shrike is a pint-sized predator of birds, small mammals, and insects. A bold black mask and stout, hooked bill heighten the impression of danger in these fierce predators.

They breed in far northern North America and come as far south as the northern U.S. for winter. They hunt in brushy, semi open habitats, chasing after birds, creeping through dense brush to ambush prey, or pouncing on mice. They often save food for later by impaling it on thorns or barbed wire. Cornell All About Birds

Red Crossbill

A fascinating finch of coniferous woodlands, the Red Crossbill forages on nutritious seeds in pine, hemlock, Douglas-fir, and spruce cones. Their specialized bills allow them to break into unopened cones, giving them an advantage over other finch species.

They nest wherever and whenever they find abundant food, sometimes even in winter. Several types of Red Crossbill exist; they each have different calls, feed on particular conifer species, and might represent distinct species. Cornell All About Birds

Chukar

Continuing with western birds is the Chukar. We observed this Chukar on Antelope Island Utah.

Introduced from Eurasia, the sandy-brown Chukar is a game bird that lives in high desert plains of western North America, as well as in Hawaii and New Zealand. Its namesake call echoes across dry rocky slopes.

It runs and scampers up steep terrain with the agility and speed of a mountain goat, prompting hunters to nickname it the "devil bird" for the brutal chase it gives. Dark bars on the sides and a band across the head and neck adorn this red-billed game bird. Cornell All About Birds

Western Kingbird

An eye-catching bird with ashy gray and lemon-yellow plumage, the Western Kingbird is a familiar summertime sight in open habitats across western North America.

This large flycatcher sallies out to capture flying insects from conspicuous perches on trees or utility lines, flashing a black tail with white edges. Western Kingbirds are aggressive and will scold and chase intruders (including Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels) with a snapping bill and flared crimson feathers they normally keep hidden under their gray crowns. Cornell All About Birds

Western Meadowlark

Like other members of the blackbird, or icterid, family, meadowlarks use a feeding behavior called “gaping,” which relies on the unusually strong muscles that open their bill.

They insert their bill into the soil, bark or other substrate, then force it open to create a hole. This gives meadowlarks access to insects and other food items that most birds can’t reach.

The explorer Meriwether Lewis was the first to point out the subtle differences between the birds that would eventually be known as the Eastern and Western Meadowlarks, noting in June 1805 that the tail and bill shapes as well as the song of the Western Meadowlark differed from what was then known as the “oldfield lark” in the Eastern United States. Cornell All About Birds

Dickcissel

 

Dickcissels perch on stalks or shrubs to pluck seeds. They also walk or hop on the ground, foraging for seeds.

Adult males are grayish on the head with a yellow face and chest, crossed with a bold black V. The back is brown and gray, with warm reddish-brown shoulders.

In all seasons Dickcissels are most commonly found in tall grasslands, including prairies, hayfields, lightly grazed pastures, and roadsides. Cornell All About Birds

Ruff

Of the various Eurasian shorebirds that stray into North America, this one is the most regular and widespread in its occurrence. Ruffs are best known for their bizarre courtship plumage and rituals.

In spring, male Ruffs are wildly variable in color and pattern of their neck ruffs and head tufts. They gather on display grounds, or "leks," and display to attract females. Rudimentary displays are occasionally seen from spring migrant Ruffs in North America. Cornell All About Birds

This is the only image of a Ruff that I have. It was taken here in Lambton County and was a life bird for me last year.

Killdeer

 

Killdeer have the characteristic large, round head, large eye, and short bill of all plovers. They are especially slender and lanky, with a long, pointed tail and long wings.

Look for Killdeer on open ground with low vegetation (or no vegetation at all), including lawns, golf courses, driveways, parking lots, and gravel-covered roofs, as well as pastures, fields, sandbars and mudflats. This species is one of the least water-associated of all shorebirds. Cornell All About Birds

American Avocet

The American Avocet takes elegance to a new level. This long-legged wader glides through shallow waters swishing its slender, upturned bill from side to side to catch aquatic invertebrates. 

It dons a sophisticated look for summer with a black-and-white body and a rusty head and neck. "Elegance in a palette of toasted marshmallow". ( Allanah Vokes )

During the winter the head and neck turn a grayish white, but the bird loses none of its elegance as it forages along coastal waters or rests while standing on one leg.

Cornell All About Birds