In mid-September, we are moving into the later part of fall migration, with the peak raptor and waterfowl movement still ahead of us. The shorebird and passerine movements are winding down, with only a few late season surprises ahead.
Before this year there had only been five previous reports of Upland Sandpipers in Gallatin County. But this year Upland Sandpipers were seen at two locations, on the same day! On the morning of August 10th Davey Walters had an Upland Sandpiper fly overhead while at Headwaters State Park. Later that afternoon Andrew Guttenberg saw another Upland Sandpiper just to the north of the airport in Belgrade.
Gray Flycatchers are a rarity anywhere in Montana other than in very specific locations in Beaverhead and Carbon Counties. Empidonax flycatchers are notorious for their difficulty of identification, especially without any vocalizations to go by. But on September 8th, while walking up the road at the Goose Creek state land west of Gallatin Gateway, a small plain flycatcher pumping its tail in a downward motion caught Dave Benes’ eye. Upon closer examination this turned out to be the second recorded sighting for a Gray Flycatcher in Gallatin County. Amazingly, a second Gray Flycatcher was seen interacting with the first later that day. These very cooperative flycatchers continued to be seen for another four days, and many local birders were able to enjoy close up views of these wayward birds. It makes you wonder if they might have come from a heretofore unknown breeding location.
Relatively few Rose-breasted Grosbeaks passed through southwestern Montana this spring, and only one has been reported since May. The lone report for Rose-breasted Grosbeak was a male bird that spent two days at Mark Sherkenney’s yard on Bozeman Pass, August 7-8.
What would be the first Orchard Oriole for southwestern Montana, was the female oriole spotted along the East Gallatin River at Glen Lake Rotary Park by Marco Salvo on September 9th. Orchard Orioles aren’t uncommon in eastern Montana, but seldom stray anywhere west of Billings
Ther was a small flurry of Tennessee Warblers around the first of September. Lou Ann Harris and Andrew Guttenberg started it off when they saw one in the east woods at Glen Lake, on August 29th. Two days later Don Profota had one in his yard south of Bozeman, and then on September 4th Davey Walters saw another along the Sourdough Nature Trail.
Earlier that same day, on the Sourdough Nature Trail, Andrew Guttenberg got a fleeting look at a Cape May Warbler. A rare find anywhere in Montana, this is only the third time one has been reported in the southwestern part of the state.
Last night (Sept. 13) a huge flight of nocturnal migrants, including thousands of Swainson’s Thrushes passed over this area. Due to a storm that night, these nocturnal migrants were travelling at a lower altitude than usual, enabling birders to hear them calling throughout the night. The following morning, Swainson’s Thrushes could be found everywhere across the Gallatin Valley. Such a thrilling time of year, but how to decide where to go?
