Janet and I went camping and birding at one of our favorite spots…Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge on the Montana-Idaho border. It is set in the Centennial Valley and from our campsite we can view four mountain ranges…the Centennials, Snowcrest, Gravelly and Hilgards (Madison) as well as the Upper and Lower Red Rock Lakes. We saw over fifty bird species including warbling vireo (singing on the nest), ruddy duck, Lincoln’s sparrow, trumpeter swan, MacGillivary’s warbler, willet, ring-necked duck, northern rough-winged swallow, Forster’s tern, marsh wren and 99.99% PID on black tern (life bird for both of us). NO GRIZZLY BEARS (we carried spray at all times).
Red Rocks is also known as the major breeding ground for trumpeter swans in the lower 48 states and has great spring water!
It is a welcome rest spot for many bicyclists on their long treks across the west.
The wildflowers were popping with some spectacular stands of shooting stars, balsamroot and blue lupine.
The Centennial Valley is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth.
We hope you enjoy some of these images! RB & JD
Bird photos are stock or credited.