by John Parker
The mild weather this fall noticeably delayed the movement of waterfowl from the north. By mid-November the expected push of Snow Geese and Tundra Swans still had not occurred. While the Snow Geese flight seems to have been sparse in southwest Montana, many of the geese have already arrived in the Central Valley of California. Many of the ducks also seemed to be present in lower numbers than usual. Perhaps the expected stormy weather predicted for the third week in November will get more waterfowl moving through our area. A couple of Greater White-fronted Geese did pass through this area. The first Greater White-fronted Goose to be reported was a bird found by Kevin Cox on October 29th at Three Forks Ponds. Another Greater White-fronted Goose was first seen on November 8th by Andrew Guttenberg at Davis Lane Pond in northwest Bozeman.
An Anna’s Hummingbird was visiting Patrice Walker Dello-Russo’s feeder near Pray in Paradise Valley from October 29th till November 7th. These wandering Anna’s Hummingbirds are almost becoming expected along the southern tier of Montana during the fall.
Several shorebirds made later than expected appearances. On November 8th Meghan Mutch spotted a Greater Yellowlegs on the shoreline of the Missouri river at the Headwaters State Park. On November 1st Ian van Coller and Jason Gregg found a Long-billed Dowitcher at Central Park Pond. While on a trip to Harrison Reservoir October 24th Robin Wolcott and John Parker spotted a phalarope on a distant shoreline. On closer inspection they were able to identify it as a Red-necked Phalarope. This would be either the second or third latest fall record for Montana.
On October 23rd John Parker discovered a Pacific Loon on Hyalite Reservoir. This bird remained at Hyalite until November 7th, allowing many others to see it. Those lucky enough to go to Hyalite on October 27th, also saw a one-day wonder Surf Scoter. While birding Ennis Lake’s east shore, Mackenzie Johnston spotted 2 Pacific Loons.
On October 21 Avery Jordan found a Northern Saw-whet Owl in a tree along West Story in south Bozeman. Helping with Avery’s discovery were the very vocal and agitated neighborhood chickadees, nuthatches, and juncos. From his yard south of Bozeman, Don Profota was able to record a Northern Saw-whet Owl from October 27th till November 1st.
The first of the season Harris’s Sparrow was found at the Cherry River fishing access site in north Bozeman on November 1st by Robin Wolcott. One day later a Harris’s Sparrow showed up in Paulette Epple’s northeast Bozeman yard.
After a snow storm October 18th, Dave Benes saw a Palm Warbler in the company of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet as they foraged in the leaves of an ash tree in Gallatin Gateway. Two days later Don Profota recorded another Palm Warbler south of Bozeman. These two Palm Warblers represent the fourth and fifth records for this area of Montana.
Finally, the best for the last. While on Villard Street in north Bozeman on November 11th, Mary Keck spotted a MacGillivray’s Warbler. This sighting of a MacGillivray’s Warbler is the latest record in Montana by a full month. Not only that, but according to eBird records, this sighting is later than all but a handful of sightings away from the coast or southeastern Arizona.
MacGillivray’s Warbler photo by Lou Ann Harris
