Spring trips to the Montana prairie

[Marcel Huijser]

A few spring trips to the Montana prairie to photograph geese and swan migration and sharp tailed grouse on a lek. There is often still (new) snow, with night time temperatures well below freezing. Many roads are not paved, and many roads are not improved with gravel either... when it defrosts these simple roads turn into a terrible clay... gumbo. This can get you stuck badly, sometimes only solved by waiting till the road dries out. So, be careful which roads you pick and what the moisture levels and temperatures are doing to the road conditions. Birds in the images: snow geese, tundra swans, sharp-tailed grouse.

[bigriver]

beautiful... thank you!

[bonedoc]

Nice! I'm from Glasgow...…….where you near there?

[Marcel Huijser]

Freezout Lake and Benton lake. We are from Missoula but love to explore central and Eastern Montana more! ��

[marret]

Awesome, thanks for sharing.

[bonedoc]

Marcel...…..When I was a kid we'd put our kayaks in at Fort Benton and paddle to Fort Peck Res. Some 360 miles if I remember right. We'd go days without seeing anyone....sometimes the only people we'd see were camped at the bridge crossing just south of Havre. (no idea of the highway #) What adventures! Steve

[velo47]

We have in-laws in Glasgow and just went up there last year for the first time. It was great, they have a cabin on the lake and the walleye fishing was really fun!

[Marcel Huijser]

Cool. Years ago we paddled from Fort Benton to Judith Landing. Fort Peck Reservation is a lot further! It is some beautiful country!

[dcleon]

Great photos! I'm in Missoula as well (some of the time anyway). Think I've seen your rig parked at Maclay Flat. Would have introduced myself, but I was undercover in my Subaru at the time.

[Marcel Huijser]

Hi dcleon!

Thanks! Yes, that was us parked at Maclay Flat. Usually take the passenger car, but sometimes the van engine needs to be running! So, you are here for part of the year only?