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Spring Walking Along Going-to-the-Sun Road
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The local birding community was all abuzz about a rare bird hanging out at Lake McDonald. The Yellow-billed Loon, an arctic resident, was hanging out, way south of its range. I headed up to go find the bird which was a great excuse to get into Glacier National Park and see how melted out the Going-to-the-Sun Road was!
This was my second time heading up to the park to look for the loon. The first time, we spotted a Common Loon in non-breeding plumage (meaning that it didn’t have the classic black and white patterning, but was more of a dull-ish brown). We mistook it for the Yellow-billed Loon, then probably saw the Yellow-billed Loon, but didn’t realize we hadn’t seen it and now were, but it dove before we got a photo and… well, it was a mess. Regardless, I was heading up to “for sure” see this rare bird on the lake.
I drove up through the West Entrance of the park and started out along Lake McDonald. This time of year, especially on a cloudy weekday, makes for quiet outings. While a few folks were here from other states, finding places to park, and quiet locations with nobody around, is easy.
I was about halfway up to Lake McDonald Lodge when I spotted a loon in the water. I excitedly looked at it through binoculars and took a couple photos. Common Loon. Always fun and exciting, but not exactly what I was looking for. Both loon species had been seen swimming/feeding next to each other earlier and I waited around for a while to see if the other one would surface. They can swim underwater for over 15 minutes, so they’re easily missed by the impatient.
I eventually made it up to Lake McDonald Lodge; still boarded up and surrounded by snow piles. I grabbed my binoculars, camera, and spotting scope, and headed down to the water. The forest was quiet, save for a couple of Pileated Woodpeckers drumming and calling. Give it a couple weeks and it will be a glorious melody!
After putting the scope down and scanning, past the goldeneyes and an early season Red-necked Grebe, I spotted a loon where McDonald Creek enters into Lake McDonald. Eureka! It looked lighter than the Common Loon. Now I had to decide if I had enough time to get closer. I decided I’d walk the road, check out its conditions, see the new bridge over McDonald Creek, and try for a passable picture of the bird!
The road is smack dab in the middle of winter and spring. For the most part, I didn’t have to walk on ice/snow, until I got close to North McDonald Road. Definitely not good for Cross-country skiing (I passed some optimistic skiers as I was leaving. Not sure how far they planned on walking or if they would even find anything skiable!) It’s not quite there for riding a bike, but absolutely fine for walking and I was thankful.
I passed the mossy understory, lovely cedars and hemlocks, and three whitetail deer before arriving at North McDonald Road where I took a left and arrived at the bridge. This road has been closed for the last couple of years as they replaced the old bridge. Gone was the aging bridge that smelled like creosote with a wonderful new bridge that was structurally sound and not smelly.
McDonald Creek chattered below with McDonald Falls visible upstream and the lake visible downstream. An American Dipper chattered closer to the lake and I was able to spy the Yellow-billed Loon from the bridge. Success!
I worked my way along the creek’s edge to the inlet of the lake, as the loon worked its way along the shoreline, drifting away from me. With it being much closer, I was able to confirm that it was the loon I was looking for. The dipper continued to chatter, while a Song Sparrow started working on its spring melody. A Belted Kingfisher rattled by and perched on a branch while a Common Goldeneye fluttered down from the lake.
It was time to turn around and I retraced my steps back to the car. Glacier was generous again. I got some fresh air, some forested solitude, a variety of birds, and the rare loon. It was time to head back home. Spring is on the way.
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One response to “Spring Walking Along Going-to-the-Sun Road”
Thanks for all the current updates and sightings
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