Day 2--Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 236 Miles and 9 Hours

We left Missoula at 8:40 this mornong in cooler weather, but mostly sunny. The scenery was variable but always beautiful. We drove through many spectacular valleys with colorful and intriguing rock formations. In Helena we stopped for a visit with Charles Russell's paintings at the Montana Historical Society Museum. They are so great! We birded Benton Lake Wildlife Refuge north of Great Falls, following a 9 mile loop drive in just under 4 hours! We found a life bird for both of us in a Blue-winged Teal. No doubt about thar one! Among the 28 species we found on the refuge were: Hudsonian Godwit, Willet, Long-billed Curlew, Black-necked Stilt, and many Avocets, Eared Grebes and Forster Terns. Also in plentiful supply were very large mosquitoes which invaded our car when we opened the window to hear the birds. Being in the midst of so many twittering, honking, quacking birds was amazing. The Meadowlarks sounded as if they were in the car with us, too. Sofie the good dog proves a patient traveller. She got a long walk along the Missouri River with Paul this evening. Today our eyes were on: Pink, red, yellow, black, purple and orange rocks. Birds aplenty. Charlie Russell paintings and our first Blue-winged Teal.

A birder at Benton Lake Wildlife Refuge, Montana

Eyes on Our 2010 Road Trip

April 22, 2010
We are gathering ourselves and our stuff to launch our big trip tomorrow. Car is packed to the brim, saving a nice space for Sofie the dog, our travelling companion.
Tomorrow we are heading Eastward.

Today our eyes are on:
Sunshine two days in a row!
Fresh cookies out of the oven!
Maps and many birding field guides!