Since last week, another 12 species of birds have arrived for the warm seasons in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana. Bob Danley of the Bitterroot Outdoor Journal says that 147 specieis of birds have been counted so far this year and the songbird migration is in full-song . er..full swing.
Arriving this week were the Yellow-rumped Warbler, Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow (photo above), Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Orange-crowned Warbler and the waterfowl include Ruddy Ducks and Blue-winged Teal (photo below). Of course, waterbirds and animals that love the valley floor can be found at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, northeast of Stevensville. The songbirds are in the wooded areas and throughout the area neighborhoods. We also saw some hawks hatching out this week, too.
(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca) April 18, 2021 - 8:00 AM It is such a prolific and popular plant in the region, it’s become the City of Kelowna’s official flower. We’re talking about the Arrowleaf Balsamroot, sometimes more familiarly known locally as the Okanagan sunflower. “Okanagan Sunflowers” is an acrylic on canvas painting of the Arrowleaf Balsamroot by local artist Jo Scott-B. Local wild food forager Scott Moran calls it “a lovely flower that comes up super early around here.” You can find the bright yellow flowers popping up throughout the Thompson and Okanagan. They are a plant that is commonly found throughout the North American west, with flowers about the size of a small fist emerging in this region around the beginning of April.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Shae Fischer April 15, 2021 - 6:00 AM Spring is blossoming all over the Thompson - Okanagan. Sunny skies and warm temperatures are getting people outdoors to capture some colourful scenes of the season this week. Many blossoms are peaking in Okanagan orchards this week, as evidenced by these images captured by South Okanagan photographers Meghann Fletcher and Ron Hiller. Even the birds seem to be enjoying the weather as Shae Fischer caught a local quail, seemingly with a spring in its step, above. Jason Foster captured these Arrowleaf balsam root (Okanagan sunflowers) coming soon to a hillside near you recently posting the photo to Kamloops photographers Facebook page.
Nature’s Bouquet in Yellowstone Country
Posted on Apr 09, 2021 The first tulip leaves shot up last week. Soon, the hillsides will turn deep green, the trees will bloom their early chartreuse-colored buds, and the wildflowers will start to appear. If you haven’t experienced spring in Yellowstone Country, the wildflowers, in particular, it’s well worth a scenic drive or a leisurely hike to get up close and personal. Some, like the Arrowleaf Balsamroot, blanket the hillsides in bright yellow. Others, such as Yellow Columbine, are more delicate and require a discerning eye. Once you start paying attention, you’ll find yourself scouring the ground cover for these precious gems. We’ve compiled a primer of a few of our favorites to get you started, but the best way to enjoy them is to grab a wildflower identification book and hit the trail!