A THUNDERSTORM

We had a pretty good thunderstorm go through the valley this afternoon.  We were just about to have our cabin and house/barn sprayed for bugs just as it hit.  Lots of wind and some really hard rain.  Lot of lightning also.  We all thought it best to just do the inside and wait until a nicer day to do the outside. 

Went for a nice ride this morning with Gary.  Connie was riding her young horse Peg and she did very well.  Still a young horse though.  Lots to learn and one stump made her jump!  Got to see a cow elk that just watched us ride by and we figure she had a calf right close by. 

Some pretty ugly clouds just after the thunderstorm.

The rose bushes at the back of the cabin are starting to bloom.

SUMMER MIGHT BE HERE

We are finally getting some summer like temperatures or maybe I should say average type temperatures.  It was in the mid 70's today around here with sunshine.  It really felt nice.

Our old broad mare Stormy showed up very lame this morning so we have her on some bute for a few days to see if she recovers.  Hope it is just a pulled muscle and not her stifle joint.  Also took Zeus to the vet today as he is not breathing so well when he is out walking.

 A butterfly getting a little nectar from a geranium.

The turkeys are all still around and a few have started going through our barn looking for oats.

Connie and I have seen quite a few elk while riding the last few days.  We were riding through some trees yesterday and rode right up on quite a few elk.  Most scattered, but a few just watched us go by.  Today Connie did not ride in her jacket as it was nice and warm.  She sure is a cute.  

LOTS OF WILDFLOWERS

We are still having a wet and cool spring.  But one good thing is the abundance of wildflowers.  And they seem to be taller as does the grass out in the timber.  Lots of moisture this spring.  Rivers are still high and in many instances are flooding.  But we can be thankful that the snow went off fairly slowly with the cool weather.  I hate to think of what it would have been like a couple of weeks ago if it had really turned warm after all the rain we had.

The lawn/garden is not composed of wildflowers, but it looks pretty good this spring.

Prairie smoke, arnicas, and death camas.

We really notice that the prairie smoke is taller this year.

And with all the moisture, we have lots of mushrooms.

It says vacancy at the bottom of the cabin sign.

LOONS

A few weeks ago we received an insert in our local paper about things to do in Montana.  Connie was looking at it and saw where there are loons on some lakes by Seeley Lake, MT.  We have not seen or heard a loon since we left Alaska.  And they have a couple of very distinct calls.  You never forget it.  That area is only about 2 1/2 hours north of here so we decided to take the kayak up there and do a little looking for loons.  We took the camper pulling the jeep and spent one night on the shores of Alva Lake.  We got to see and hear loons!  What a great time.  The weather was a little raining most of the time, but we had a great time.

The rivers up there are really running high and fast.  Of course the ones down here are also at or near flood stage.  But kayaking on the lake and a little bit on the river between lakes was pretty calm.  We also jumped in the jeep and did a little exploring.  It has been a number of years since we were up there so it was just like new being as old and forgetful as we are.

Our campsite.  We shared the whole campground with one other camper and the lake we had to ourselves.

Looking northeast towards the Bob Marshall Wilderness area.

The first loon we saw.

The rain soaked trees.

We also saw elk, bald eagles, shore birds, etc.  Great wildlife viewing.

The second loon we saw.

Looking south from a rest stop.

Nice reflections.

It was not all that warm though.  We had to have jackets on first thing this morning over our polar fleece.

This is the Clearwater River between Alva and Rainy Lakes.  Did not go all the way to Rainy, but we might have been able to.

BITTERROOTS IN BLOOM

I finally walked out to the west of our place where the first bitterroots usually show up and sure enough, there were at least 8 blooming over there.  They are late this year - normal years it is the 1st of June when they are blooming.  Looks like lots of them will be in full flower mode in a week or so. 

The famous bitterroot which our valley was named for and is the state flower.

The Arrowleaf Balsamroots are starting to fade as their peddles are falling off.

The bleeding hearts are still going strong by the barn.

Quite a few flowers in the rocks to the west of our place still in bloom.  With all the moisture this spring, we have quite a few flowers.

FIRST FAWN

The other day I saw my first baby calf elk and today saw my first fawn.  I love my morning walks just as the sun is coming up - and this time of year, the sun comes up pretty early.  Anyway, got to see a fawn and a couple of calves this morning.  I am always a little slow on getting my camera up and ready to shoot so missed some of the best shots.  The elk this morning really surprised me as I had just turned around and was walking back when they were right there in front of me.  I had been at that particular point not 10 minutes before and did not see any elk standing out in the sagebrush - but there they were.  I think we were both surprised to see each other.  A couple of pictures from the day.

I knew this doe had a fawn when I first saw her.  She did not move, but just watched me.  The fawn was hidden by the sagebrush and I only got to see a glimpse of it.

These are water skippers on a puddle in the road miles from any running water.  How do they get there?  Do they burrow into the mud and wait for a raining spring to come back out?  They don't have wings it seems.  I will have to check it out.

These are the two cows with calves.  You can just see one calf on the left.

The flower Prairie Smoke is really starting to bloom.

This is a young rock chuck making sure I am still outside of the den.  I came upon this den two days ago while spraying weeds down in the meadow.  There are 2 adults and 6 babies in this den.  I did not have a camera when all 8 were outside, sitting and laying on the rocks watching me.  What a picture it would have been.

This is our first iris to bloom in 2011.

BUSY SUNDAY

Connie and I were really busy today.  Started out with a nice hike to the east of us where I saw more elk with calves.  Nine cows, one bull, and five calves.  Pretty good percentage for that little herd - which may even have more calves in the coming weeks.  After breakfast, we saddled a couple of horses and went for a nice ride.  Did not see anymore elk, but did see some deer.  Got back from the ride and loaded up the kayak and kayak gear then headed to West Fork Lake to do some kayaking.  It was the warmest day so far this year in the Bitterroot - in the mid 80's!!!  Felt good to get back on the water.  It has been a few months since we were kayaking down in Arizona.  Did not see as many birds as we usually do on the lake though.  A few ducks, but no wading or shore birds.  Of course the lake was FULL, going over the spillway actually. 

The elk looking at me wondering why I am up here in their country.

Click to enlarge and you can see three calves running with their moms.

A bluebird checking me out.

A young Clarks Nutcracker finding a pine nut to eat.

We had a late lunch on the shore of the lake.

Lots of little frogs hopping around the shoreline.

BABY ELK

Saw my first baby elk of 2011 this morning.  The first one I saw was very young and still quite wobbly.  The second I saw was older and was very independent.  We have had a lot of rain so the walking has been muddy.  And the walks short to say the least so I needed to take a nice long hike.  This morning was clear and with no rain for the last 24 hours, the road was in good shape - by that I mean it was not too muddy.  Although walking through the grass was still very wet.    Connie was going to ride her bike so I headed out early to Scott's overlook (those who have hiked with me east of our place know the place).  I ran into a small herd just below the powerlines and watched them for quite a little bit of time.  The spike bulls now have pretty good antlers sticking up about a foot.  I was hunkered down behind a sagebrush watching them with my binoculars but got busted by a cow I did not see to my right.  She must have saw me moving around a little behind the sagebrush and took off which alerted all the rest of the bunch.  I then headed up to the overlook and was just about there when I walked upon a cow with a pretty young calf.  They took off around a rock never to be seen again.  I spent a little time up on the overlook glassing for elk, but did not see any.  It was so quiet and peaceful there this morning.  The Clarks Nutcrackers have hatched and left their nest so they are hanging around being very noisy.  But it is an easy listening noise.  When I came off the overlook and started back down the road, there were some elk in the trees so I again dropped behind a sagebrush and waited.  Sure enough, a cow and calf stepped out and I got to watch them for quite some time.  There were about 6 cows in this little bunch.  The calf was much older than the first calf I saw - I would say a week or maybe even two.  I got to see him nurse and to go off exploring by himself.  I find it just fun to watch these animals in the wild.  He did a couple of little bucks and kicks - just feeling good.  I of course did not have my good camera with a telephoto lens.  But I did have our old little camera so did take a couple of pictures.  Watching through the binoculars was great though.  Then it was back home, eat a quick breakfast and head down to Corvallis to present the colors (flags) at the High School graduation.  After that, Connie and I spent the rest of the day trying to catch up on weeding and spraying down in the meadow.  It sure keeps us busy.  Some pics below.  Click on the picture to enlarge.

One of the elk at the powerlines.

The view near the overlook.

Click to enlarge and the calf is in the center.  

The old Tom the other day on our driveway.

And here he is in Connie's rock garden.

And this is the wolf tracks from the other day.  That is my leatherman squirt for a comparison in size.