Mill Creek trail was the nearest hiking trail into the National Forest from my rental house near Hamilton. Feeling antsy to get some exercise, I drove up to the trailhead and began my walk. I enjoyed the scenery but the rushing Mill Creek was very loud in the canyon. It made it difficult to hear birds and my hearing isn’t very good anyway. I did get a glimpse of a Pacific Wren but no pictures. I didn’t spend long in the canyon due to the roaring noise of the creek.
About two weeks later, I drove to the West Cow Creek trailhead. I had stopped by there previously but the small parking lot was full. This time, I arrived earlier in the morning. The trail is actually a road that hadn’t opened yet for the season. It was a decent road and a relatively easy hike, even with the constant uphill grade. Over the next several weeks, I hiked this road two more times. The Snowshoe Hare (above) greeted me each time.
My Merlin Bird ID app identified many species of birds singing along West Cow Creek Road (trail). By the way, this is a great app for people who can’t hear well and those who want to know what birds they are hearing.
Some of the more notable bird species included the Lazuli Bunting, Black-headed Grosbeak, MacGillivray’s Warbler, and Dusky Grouse.
I was happy to see a Dusky Grouse. I completely missed this bird while I was walking up the road. Fortunately, I did see it on my way back down.
After spending a very enjoyable four weeks in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley and seeing a diversity of birds and mammals, I felt something was missing…
Beautiful birds..love the hare..you better get home before the snow flies. Thank you again for sharing the hike!
I have been back in Iowa since mid-August. I am anxiously awaiting a good snow. I saw that snow was predicted in western Montana this week. I almost returned to Montana.