Montana
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The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of flights London - Billings and Bozeman - London*, accommodation, meals on the tour except for one dinner, transport, tips, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes travel insurance, the cost of one dinner (allow $30), drinks and other personal expenses. *For an ex-international flight cost (Billings/Billings) please deduct £695 from the tour cost. **Please note that singles are not available for the two nights spent in yurts. This trip will be operated in conjunction with Naturalist Journeys of the USA Please note that we require full payment 18 weeks before departure on all USA tours. Principal Leader: Peg Abbott |
Saddle up for a fabulous trip to the real American West! We travel to the Montana Plains and Yellowstone National Park at the best time of year, when their wonderful variety of resident birds will be in full song, , their amazing range of mammals have young of the year in abundance, and the prairie will be ablaze with flowers. In the words of one of Yellowstone's most famous residents, this is a tour that's "smarter than the average"! |
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In early June few places in the world match Yellowstone National Park's Lamar Valley for viewing the dynamics of large predators and their prey. Snow in the high country keeps herds of elk and deer in the valleys. Predators - particularly bears and wolves - take advantage of this, often in numbers that create real pressure between species. At the same time, their prey species are raising young, which are abundant and a joy to see.
We focus mainly on wildlife viewing in the dawn and dusk hours, while mid-day we offer excursions to the interior of Yellowstone to explore the geyser basins, Hayden Valley, and the dramatic Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. Our route to and from Billings lets us cross the dramatic, 10,000-foot mountain pass of the great Beartooth Plateau to see some of North America's finest mountain scenery, with a good chance of spotting Mountain Goats, Clark's Nutcrackers, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels, Marmots and Pikas. But we start amidst the serene beauty of eastern Montana's expansive prairies, which offer a lovely contrast to the drama of Yellowstone National Park. We visit this little-visited, beautiful part of Montana during early June, when the prairie is often ablaze with wildflowers and the air filled with birdsong. Some of the region's signature birds can be very difficult to find, but we have the experts to do so. We are eager to share the fascinating ecological studies emerging from prairie research, spurred by the attention of the World Wildlife Fund, the Nature Conservancy and the American Prairie Foundation, all deeply involved in restoration of the wild character of the Great Northern Plains, and to cap it all, we spend two nights right out on the plains, in yurts! The camp is ultimately private, stars jump out of the sky overhead, and we share life as if on safari - in Montana. The camp has yurts (two per yurt) with wooden floors, twin beds, dresser and lighting. We have a larger yurt set up as our kitchen and another for a meeting room where we hope to mingle with researchers and conservation staff. The bathrooms are 'porta pottys' and the showers are solar. We know that is a bit of an adventure, but the chance to wake up to a meadowlark symphony is well worth it. We'll have great catered meals, time around the campfire, and wildlife sightings to remember. A bison herd has been re-established on the reserve and we take time to watch the calves frolic. Coyotes have hungry pups to feed and we may hear the adults serenade. After camping, we enjoy a day in the Little Rockies amid groves of aspen and pine, before heading back to Billings where we celebrate at a well-known local steakhouse. Long -billed Curlews nest here and should already have chicks when we arrive. Researchers have followed the lives of several individuals we may see. Using small satellite radio telemetry units, they know that the birds make non-stop flights to winter in Chihuahua, Mexico, then return to the same Montana pasture! The Rancher's Alliance in the region has embraced many of the wildlife projects, leaving space for Prairie Dogs, Burrowing Owls, Red Foxes and Pronghorn. Under extensive skies and great cloud shows, we search out signature prairie species such as McCown's and Chestnut-collared Longspurs, Sprague's Pipits, Upland Sandpipers, Baird's and Grasshopper sparrows, and more. Ferruginous Hawks, Northern Harriers, Swainson's Hawks, and Golden Eagles are regularly seen; we make a concerted effort, with the help of local researchers, to find the rare Mountain Plovers. Understanding their decline may unlock secrets needed for several prairie species to prosper. Wildlife isn't all the area has to offer: in this farming and ranching region we'll enjoy scenic views, beautiful rivers, and local hospitality. Cottonwood trees and a variety of shrubs line local creeks and streams; we check these green oases for migrant and resident songbirds. We begin and end in Billings, exploring areas to the north including Glasgow, Fort Peck, the Missouri River Breaks, Bowdoin, Malta and Charles Russell National Wildlife Refuges and the Little Rockies near Zortman. In addition to birding, the possibility of prairie wildflowers, and seeing the region's mammals, and for those hard to see species, learning more habits and habitats of the rare ones such as Black-footed Ferrets and Swift Foxes. The tour is again devised by Peg Abbott, and will be run in conjunction with her company, Naturalist Journeys, and the group could include some of her US clients. Peg has always had a weakness for wide open spaces of the prairie; please join her, along with local experts, for a Montana Prairie Spring! Itinerary Day 1 Scheduled flight from London to Billings, Montana. This is an incredible time of year to explore Montana's true Big Sky Country - a time when the prairies are awash with colour and bird song is at its peak. We hope you'll arrive in time to take in the Western Heritage with its extensive collections chronicling people and places of the Yellowstone River Valley and the Northern High Plains. Our hotel is located in the historic downtown district and tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner there, with a fabulous view of the city and the Yellowstone River winding through it. Overnight, Billings (D) Day 2 This morning's walk at nearby Two Moon Park along the Yellowstone River is often no less than extraordinary! Here we see species we are not likely to see again, for several species with Eastern forest affinity seem to have followed the green corridor of the river just this far - Brown Thrashers, Red-eyed Vireos and American Redstarts to mention a few. Yellow-breasted Chats are vocal and common here in the lush riparian vegetation. We should also find White-tailed Deer feeding, White Pelicans flying in chevrons above, Bank Swallows excavating their nests, Lazuli Buntings in all their blazing colour, and possibly inquisitive Red Foxes. We return for our things, pack up and head north towards the Canadian border, beginning very soon outside the city to witness the legendary open spaces of 'Big Sky Country'. During the day's drive (about four hours) we see only small communities and a few scattered ranch and farm buildings. We have lunch in one of the communities en route, and make some stops to see and photograph our first prairie species. Pronghorn have young fawns which can put on quite a show. We settle into our simple but comfortable accommodations, enjoy dinner and prepare tomorrow's sightings. Overnight Glasgow (B,L,D) Day 3 One of the forces that ensure the Northern Great Plains remains diverse and healthy is that of varied landscapes. After today your eye will pick up the difference between shrub-dominated steppe communities, important to Sage Thrashers and Greater Sage-grouse (among other species). Learn more about why Greater Sage-grouse are considered an umbrella species for others less charismatic such as Brewer's and Lark sparrows, and Loggerhead Shrikes. Valley and Phillips counties, Montana both hold extensive tracts of sagebrush so important to Greater Sage-grouse, a species on the decline and of real concern. Montana Audubon has delineated five Important Bird Areas based on this species, indicating their strong role in this ecosystem. These comprise some six million acres of public and private lands - Montana IS Big Sky Country! Mule Deer and Elk also frequent the area, along with Badgers, Long-tailed Weasels and Black-tailed Jackrabbits. Plant enthusiasts will be in their prime; this habitat type is a wonderland for wildflowers. A real highlight of the day is (hopefully) seeing a population of Mountain Plovers that live with less dependence on Prairie Dogs than some we see later in the journey. Their habitat they select is a function of soils here, an interesting twist to their ecology. McCown's Longspurs like these short grass areas as well. We take a picnic lunch and then return to Glasgow, for a break. Afterwards, we drive a half hour to Fort Peck, one of the largest dams on the Upper Missouri River. An interpretive centre hosts displays of its construction and on wildlife that uses the area today. We look for Common Loons, a number of ducks and at dusk, Common Poorwills. Enjoy dinner at the historic Fort Peck Inn ahead of our return to Glasgow. Overnight Glasgow (B,L,D) Day 4 Exploring North Valley County brings us in range of many of the signature prairie birds we hope to see: Chestnut-collared Longspurs, Sprague's Pipits and Baird's and Grasshopper Sparrows. Many alert us to their presence with flight songs, which sound like joy to novice and ardent birders alike. This is our chance to watch behaviour at some of the large 'towns' of Black-tailed Prairie Dog, which has been described as the keystone species of the region. We may also find Marbled Godwits with chicks, Wilson's Phalaropes and American Avocets at small ponds, and all around us we watch the snappy display flight of abundant Lark Buntings. We examine the landscape as well as its species, and discuss how prairies form, and how they are maintained. Plant life is quite different than where we explored yesterday and with luck we may find some lingering blooms of Bitterroot. We drive a maze of backcountry roads as we head towards Malta. If time permits you can check out the local museum, which displays local history alongside the bones of dinosaurs, plentiful in the region. Overnight Malta (B,L,D) Day 5 Just seven miles west of Malta, the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of habitats with lush areas of wetlands that we visit this morning. The refuge was established in 1958 to protect an area of shortgrass prairie, prairie potholes, expansive ponds and lakes. Over 235 species of birds have been identified on the refuge. Gray Partridge, Sharp-tailed Grouse and Greater Sage-grouse all nest here; while the males are done strutting, in June we may sight females with chicks. This area was once an oxbow of the Missouri River, before the last glacial activity created the river's current course. Water collects in this geologic depression, providing habitat for waterfowl and wading birds such as American White Pelicans, Eared Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Black-crowned Night-Herons, White-faced Ibis, and noisy Franklin's Gulls. We should see Wood Ducks, all three species of teal, and other species. Another highlight at Bowdoin is the nesting sites of some of the more elusive prairie species, such as - Sprague's Pipit and Baird's Sparrow. Western Meadowlarks serenade us throughout the day; Horned Larks and longspurs sing while performing from the air in display flights. Near ponds we should find Marsh Wrens, Common Yellowthroats, and perhaps an elusive Sora. After a picnic lunch in Malta's city park, we drive south to the turn off to our safari camp on lands of the American Prairie Foundation. This extensive area sits just across the Missouri River from the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. Working closely with the World Wildlife Fund, APF has acquired land and conservation easements. Their work will help provide an ecological corridor: Canada's Grasslands National Park to Charles Russell National Wildlife Area. They do education and outreach, facilitate state-of-the-art research, and provide professional expertise. Their invitation to camp on the APF preserve, one of few landscape-scale grassland protected areas, offers an unparalleled opportunity to be close to wildlife and to interact with scientists studying key species. The night skies, remote settings, proximity to Bison, Pronghorn, Coyotes and prairie birds is well worth the adventure of two nights of catered and outfitted camping. Our yurts feature wooden floors, two twin beds, dressers and lighting. In addition to the sleeping yurts, the camp has two large yurts, one for a kitchen and one for social gathering and presentations. Toilets are 'porta pottys' and there are hot showers (via an on demand heater) - they want to leave a very light footprint on the prairie and this is in essence, a mobile camp. Those familiar with safari in Africa will be much at home. Enjoy the night skies, delicious catered meals, the campfire and camaraderie. Overnight in yurts, 'Tented Camping Safari Style' on the Prairie (B,L,D) Day 6 From our remote base, we have time to absorb the symphony of sound at dawn, and to learn more about research being conducted in the area. Mountain Plovers have been the subject of a long-term study by Dr. Steven Dinsmore of Iowa State University and his graduate students. Geo-locaters help them track the birds. Long-billed Curlews have been tracked with satellite devices and have been recorded making non-stop flights to Chihuahua, Mexico. We also hope to tour a local ranch, where stewardship of the land has produced habitat for curlews and longspurs as a by-product of cattle management. A Greater Sage-grouse tracking project has yielded interesting results on their seasonal migration. Not far from our camp we can overlook Fort Peck Reservoir from its other side. Lewis and Clark passed by this area of the Missouri and at scenic places like this, it is fun to read from their journals. Wide open spaces here provide good habitat for prairie dogs, but plague and climatic factors play a role in their population fluctuations that is in turn a factor in the future survival of one of North America's rarest mammals, the Black-footed Ferret. Pronghorn used to migrate long distances, rivalling the well-known migration of Africa's wildebeests. A research project at APF is comparing and contrasting the differences in the way that bison and cattle use the land in relation to water. The return of the Bison has not been welcomed by all, the politics of their story makes for a lively campfire discussion. Overnight in yurts, 'Tented Camping Safari Style' on the Prairie (B,L,D) Day 7 We spend a few hours near camp this morning, enjoying breakfast, packing up and lingering to the now familiar chorus of meadowlarks. We drive west to the highway, looking for any species that have eluded us thus far. Mid-day we enjoy a picnic lunch near Zortman, in very different habitat - locally known as the 'Little Rockies.' Here Quaking Aspen and conifers provide habitat for Cooper's Hawks, Western Tanagers, Dusky Flycatchers, and possibly Red Crossbills, or Saw-whet Owls. This island mountain range amid a sea of grass has its own story, one we get a glimpse of today. Leaving here, near the Fred Robinson Bridge of the Charles Russell National Wildlife Refuge, we take a break and scan a large cottonwood grove along the Missouri River, where we may find Eastern Kingbirds, Western Wood Pewees, Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrashers, Common Nighthawks, Least Flycatchers and Ovenbirds. Black-billed Magpies and Mountain Bluebirds are seen frequently on our route from here into Billings. Tonight, after time to clean up after our camping adventure, we enjoy a fine dinner at one of Billing's famous steakhouses. Overnight Billings (B,L,D) Day 8 Morning and lunch at your leisure, with perhaps time to see the Yellowstone Art Museum or a bit of downtown Billings. After lunch we drive some way west along the Yellowstone River, then turn south towards the Beartooth Mountains. Today's drive is through lush agricultural areas, mainly hay crops grown to feed livestock. This is classic Big Sky scenery. Sometimes we spot raptors, Bobolinks or Common Snipe which like to sit on fence posts this time of year as they are courting. Pairs of Sandhill Cranes or White-tailed Deer may be feeding in the meadow. We stop a few places along the way and arrive in time for you to look around this quaint mountain town. Overnight Red Lodge. (D) Day 9 After looking for American Dippers in the local creek at Red Lodge, and scanning for hummingbirds at a local resident's feeders, we head off for an extraordinary drive; one Charles Kuralt has called the most scenic in North America. Even in June we may have walls of ploughed snow near the upper reaches. If we can tear our eyes away from the stunning views of both the Beartooth and Absaroka Mountain ranges, we're likely to see montane and alpine species such as Black- and Gray-crowned Rosy Finches, American Pipits, Horned Larks, Northern Goshawks, Yellow-bellied Marmots, Pikas and other species. Clark's Nutcrackers and a herd of Rocky Mountain Goats frequent the rest stop at Rock Creek. We descend through lush forests broken by meadows and with luck we may spot a Moose and her calf. The pointed peaks of Pilot and Index mark our arrival to the mountain town of Cooke City, where we stay the next four nights. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a favourite local restaurant. Overnight Cooke City (B,L,D) Days 10 - 12 We have three full days to survey wildlife of the Lamar Valley in search of wolves, Black and Grizzly Bears, and all the hoofed mammal species upon which they prey. At no time is the drama more intense, because snow on the mountains keeps the large herds down in the valley during their most vulnerable time: during the birth of calves. The predators search the sagebrush flats, new-leafing aspen groves, and sheltered pine and Douglas Fir forests for their prime targets, elk, as well as other prey. We should have close looks at Bison, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Elk, and Pronghorn, all of which should have young. We hope to see wolf activity as well: hunting, travelling, and possibly feeding young. We review the entire history of wolf reintroduction, a highly successful program that began in 1995. By using a spotting scope at the edge of the road, we also hope to observe both Black and Grizzly Bears in great detail at a safe distance. One afternoon we'll venture over Dunraven Pass to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with its dramatic Upper and Lower Falls, a scenic highlight for many. En route we may see active Peregrine Falcon or Osprey nests, fascinating to watch from above as they occur in the canyon below us. Bison herds with calves often create 'road blocks' in Hayden Valley beyond the Falls, much to viewers' delight. In the vast open hills of Hayden Valley, we may see Coyotes, Northern Harriers, and possibly Harlequin Ducks at LeHardy Rapids. We enjoy an early dinner at the historic Lake Hotel (or nearby Lake Lodge if you prefer the cafeteria) and return to Cooke City during prime wildlife watching hours. On Wednesday and Thursday you are free to enjoy dinner on your own in Cooke City; on Friday we enjoy a final meal together at the delightful Log Cabin restaurant in nearby Silver Gate. One afternoon we travel over to the Upper Geyser Basin, home of famous Old Faithful Geyser. Here boardwalk trails wind through geysers, fumaroles, mud pots and colourful hot springs en route down to Morning Glory Pool, passing many of the major thermal features for which the park is known. Bison seem attracted to the basin at this time of year; watching their calves is a delight. The Firehole River is a good place to watch for Dippers, Barrow's Goldeneyes, and even River Otters. En route home it's up and over Dunraven Pass, watching for wildlife (especially Grizzly Bears) as we head back through the Lamar Valley to Cooke City. Three nights Cooke City (B,L each day, D on the last evening) Day 13 Today we have breakfast, pack up and then drive over Beartooth Pass, with its vistas and wildflowers, back to Billings, Montana for our afternoon flight to London, arriving on Day 14. Accommodation: Montana Plains: Hotels in Billings and Malta, a 'mom-and-pop' motel in Glasgow (all with rooms en suite) and we spend two extraordinary nights at a remote yurt camp set up by staff of the American Prairie Foundation. Yellowstone: Hotels and lodges with all rooms en suite. Meals: Most included, except for two dinners at Cooke City and one breakfast Pace of the tour: Moderate with some field days, with possible walks of up to 2-3 miles over undulating terrain. Numbers: Max. 12 clients |
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