Centennial Valley Panorama
What would it be like after two years of being on the move to “settle down” for two months? That’s what we wondered. Would we get itchy feet and want to move on or fall in love with the area and wish we could stay? We’d been in the general area before and knew we liked it. The verdict is in and we love it here! Yes, we are a long way from stores and other activities. What keeps us active and interested? Here’s a sampling of being out and about at Red Rock Lakes NWR.
Centennial Valley At Sunset
On A Refuge Road
North Valley Scene
Hiking In The Sandhills Of The North Valley
We work four days a week but the evenings are long here and sunset isn’t until after 9pm. This gives us time to have dinner and then go fishing, go for a drive or take a bike ride. We’ve had good luck at being out when wildlife is on the move. Even when we don’t spot anything the scenery is amazing. Then there are new wildflowers replacing the early bloomers. Having visited several refuges for a few hours or even a day we now see how different it is when you can observe over a longer period. The Upper and Lower Red Rock Lakes are scenic but Widgeon Pond is one of our favorite spots. Sometimes we drive beyond the refuge borders which offer great scenery too of ranches or the Continental Divide.
Lower Red Rock Lake Is A Birder’s Dream
Upper Red Rock Lake and Campground Is Very Popular
View From Widgeon Pond
A Nearby Montana Barn
The Continental Divide Runs Along The Centennial Mountains
A Scottish Highland Bull At A Local Ranch
We have both had a chance to observe and assist with refuge projects such as tracking Arctic Grayling fry or monitoring mountain bluebird boxes. This has given us some fantastic photographic opportunities.
Naked As A Mountain Bluebird (5 days old)
A Tree Swallow Sets Up Housekeeping In A Bluebird Box
Assisting With The Arctic Grayling Project On Elk Springs Creek
A Female Wilson’s Phalarope On Elk Springs Creek
An American Avocet
Here are some of our recent wildlife encounters. Unfortunately the trumpeter swans are keeping the young cygnets well out of range for our lenses.
A Photogenic Beaver At Widgeon Pond
Sandhill Cranes In The Tall Grass
A Pair Of Curlews At Lower Red Rock Lake
A Mother Coot And Her Red Headed Offspring
A Mule Deer
Pronghorn Are Plentiful In The Valley
Meeting A Moose Family
Oh yes, there are new wildflowers popping out every week.
Pincushion Buckwheat In The North Valley
Stonecrop Is A Type Of Sedum
Elk Thistle
Green Gentian aka Monument Plant
We thought we’d have time to include some history and other stories in this post but it is getting too long so we’ll end now with this beautiful sunset. Don’t miss this hidden gem.
Sunset On Elk Lake Road
Homeless and Loving It! 