Day 84, Monday June 25, 2018 , Lake Benton NWR and 40 miles of gravel roads.

Don't let the 40 miles upset you , as it was planned, and ended up being a great morning of birding!  On those roads we saw 25 species in the ponds and fields.  Ruth and I had learned from one of our Alaskan trips that the ponds and sinkholes along US 2 and those nearby lands are a "birder's paradise". The birds are there if you take the time and distance to find them.

So we did that today driving many back roads to get there from the north .  Most folks come up the paved road from Great Falls and it s only 8 miles from town. Our journey was from Shelby in the north,  so it was a 60 mile trip one way.

It was worthwhile and after we had met and shared with Kim, Susan and Bob, the three employees at the Benton Lake NWR Visitor Center, we headed out to get some of the best Wildlife Refuge birding in the country. Some may dispute that and our number of bird totals were not that high, BUT we saw thousands of bird families with their young  in tow all through the Refuge. It was just at the time of fledging the waterfowl and we were there at the peak.

Maybe we should let the photos tell the story tonight. All in all it was a VERY GOOD, BIRDING DAY.

Well, forgot to tell you we saw 19 of these Antelope along the way.

The Wilson's Phalarope was often seen.

A Norther Harrier just had to have its photo op.

The 'bochache', or windbreaks seen everywhere to break the wind.

One of the roads in the NWR

Near the reeds and rushes were these Yellow Headed Blackbirds

One of our favorites is the Wilson's Phalarope. They "spin"in the water to catch insects and food.

These White Faced Ibis were a surprise but common there

Wilson's Phalarope up close in breeding plumage (Male)

The Army was keeping an eye on us. There are many closed missile bases in MT.

We ended the drive by coming back through Great Falls, MT.

A storm gathering to the east as we drove back on I-15 north.

All in all a VERY GOOD BIRDING DAY.   Off to Glascow,  MT., tomorrow