Roads End Naturalist

Exploring the natural world as we wander at the end of the road


Category: Uncategorized

  • Drumming

    On a recent 4-day camping trip we heard the unmistakable sounds of ruffed grouse drumming. While driving down a dirt road, Melissa spotted one of the percussionists on his drumming log and we spent several minutes enjoying the concert. Read more…

  • Let’s Take a Moment to Reflect on That

    Reflecting on an experience is the best way to learn something from it. And seeing all the reflections across Yellowstone’s many aquatic habitats always helps me appreciate the beauty of our new home. Read more…

  • Colt

    I spent a bit of time this week observing a sandhill crane family feeding near Junction Butte. Not sure which is cuter – a baby bison or this little guy. Read more…

  • Calliope

    I have wanted to see a male calliope hummingbird ever since learning they are in Yellowstone a few years ago. We spotted one on a hike recently and it had returned to the same area when we walked back so I hung around for a bit and was rewarded with a very lucky close encounter… Read more…

  • Dusky Dust-up

    With a friend’s birding group soon to visit, I went out looking for dusky grouse that Melissa could share with them on her tour. I got more than I bargained for. Read more…

  • Avian Hovercraft

    While we were driving home earlier this week Melissa spotted a hovering kestrel and then another. We turned back and parked in a pullout and watched these aerobatic raptors as they showcased their amazing abilities while hunting. Read more…

  • Sunday Meander

    I spent my Sunday afternoon watching a couple of canids do their thing in the northern range. Not a bad way to spend a few hours. Read more…

  • Yard Elk

    The elk have been hanging around the yard a bit more lately and now a town bull has started following them around. And that is not the only yard wildlife we are seeing! Read more…

  • All Roads…

    Moving doesn’t change who you are. It only changes the view outside your window. ~Rachel Hollis Most of you probably already know about our coming big change (we put it up on FaceBook a few weeks ago). But, if you don’t, here it is. Melissa and I bought a house in Gardiner, Montana, the north… Read more…

  • Predator Potpourri

    You can’t imagine anything like nature as we know it without predators. ~Dale Jamieson I’ve been out in the yard a lot these past couple of weeks doing the spring chores of removing the dead stalks from last year’s wildflowers, adding some mulch to walkways, etc. The spring wildflowers are showing themselves as are the… Read more…