A morning stroll with the Flathead Audubon Society

Chilly temperatures and snow showers could not deter some of the Flathead Valley’s most determined birders Friday as the Audubon Society hosted a bird-watching walk around the Creston Fish Hatchery.

While the wet weather may have kept many of the birds seeking shelter, there were still plenty of species to be seen around Jessup Mill Pond and the surrounding area.

An American dipper could be seen making its way up and down the creek, collectiing insects and returning them to its waiting nest. Geese continually made their way across the skies and floated across the pond while a wood duck or two also made an appearance.

A pair of American Goldfinches made their way through the bushes looking for food and tiny Golden-crowned Kinglets flit between tree branches.

The field trip was just one of several being hosted by the Flathead Audubon Society over the next few weeks, including three Sunday morning bird walks hosted by Dan Casey along the Sonny Boon Memorial Trail in Somers during this spring migration season.

The first, scheduled for this Sunday, will focus on waterfowl and early migrants such as swallows, Nashville Warbler and Spotted Towhee.

A May 14th hike will focus on additional newcomers like Western Tanager and Yellow Warbler while another walk May 21 will look for breeding species like Gray Catbird and Black-headed Grosbeak.

The paved trail follows a portion of the oldrailroad bed along Somers Slough and offers excellent views of waterfowl as well as a wide variety of land-birds reliant on the diverse riparian habitat where 157 species have been reported .

These round-trip walks will be one mile each way, and will last approximately two hours, starting at 8 a.m.

Attendance is limited to 10 people. Please text Dan at 406-270-5941 to reserve spots.