Photography and Bird Watching

What’s better than picking up a new hobby? Picking up two new hobbies at once! That’s exactly what I did recently picking up photography and bird watching. So what came first? Well, I first bought a camera. I have always wanted a professional camera, but the price has always deterred me from making the leap into a nice camera. When evaluating what camera to buy, I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of options available on the market. Thankfully my local camera store, Bozeman Camera was there to help me along the way. Their staff was extremely helpful, great at listening to my needs, and set me up with a slightly above entry-level Nikon DSLR. The D5600 model that I chose came with two lenses to help get me started on my photography journey. One 18-55mm lens for landscape photography and a 70-300mm telephonic lens for wildlife photography. Both of these lenses have their purpose and I’m so happy I decided to get the two lens kit when I purchased my camera. Thanks Bozeman Camera!

So once I got my camera I was eager to start taking some pictures with it. A friend recommended an upcoming bird watching tour and I thought it was a great idea to test out my camera skills. I wasn’t expecting to really enjoy the bird watching as much as I did, but I was completely blown away with how much fun bird watching is. We were fortunate to have two fantastic guides from the Sacajawea Audubon Society that were very kind, informative, and gave a wonderful tour around the Story Mill Community Park. We saw so many different varieties of birds and I wasn’t able to take pictures of all of them, but I got as many pictures as I could. Below is a gallery of the birds I photographed. The highlight of the entire tour was seeing a snipe and getting a really good look at the Wilson’s Snipe. This was a really cool bird that I have never seen in all my years growing up in Montana.

After our tour, I realized that I really like birding and really enjoy taking photos of the birds. It is a really fun activity and I look forward to going on more tours this spring and summer. Stay tuned for more bird watching photography updates!

Snipe Preening Wings

Red Wing Blackbirds

Morning Dove

Geese

Wilson's Snipe

Wood Duck

Cross Country Skiing in Bozeman, MT

After growing up in Bozeman and living here for 10 years, you would think I would have done a lot of cross country skiing. You’re wrong. Almost all of my time on skis has been on downhill skis and I have not spent much time cross country skiing which is a real shame. Little did I know that Bozeman has some of the most premier cross country skiing trails, minutes away from downtown Bozeman.

Recently, I had the opportunity to experience some of these trails on cross country skis and I had an absolute blast. I was surprised to see so many other people out there skiing and the different types of skiing there are. From what I can tell, there are two main types of skiing. Traditional cross country skiing and skate skiing. Skate skiers are incredibly fast and it looks like a really intense workout. Cross country skiing is a little more welcoming to all skill levels, but is also a great workout. Skate skiing typically goes around in a short circuit where cross country skiing is built for longer trails for you to explore.

I really enjoyed my day out cross country skiing and have already been again since going my first time last week. I look forward to getting more involved in cross country skiing and embracing the workout that you get from going. Below are some pictures of my first cross country skiing venture and I look forward to sharing future cross country adventures with you all.

Hiking | Drinking Horse Trail | Bozeman, MT

If you live in the Bozeman area, then chances are you have probably hiked the Drinking Horse trail. The trail is situated directly across the road from the infamous “M” trail, and is just minutes away from downtown Bozeman. The trail is one of the things that truly makes Bozeman great. Within minutes you are able to experience a short 2.1 mile hike and get a great workout. I have gone up this trail a number of times now and each time it gets better and better. Today I hiked with my sister who recently just moved to Montana. It was great talking to her and catching up while navigating our way up the trail to the scenic top of “Drinking Horse Mountain”. The trail has a mix of open sunny areas, and closed shaded wooded areas. The mix of scenery is nice and keeps the hike interesting all the way up to the top.

I tracked the hike with an app I use called Strava. Strava is a great app if you haven’t heard of it and tracks your activity while you workout. The fitness app has modes for hiking, running, swimming, walking, cycling, and more. I consider it an essential app for anyone who spends time working out or outdoors. Below are some of my Strava screenshots and a picture of the trail!

Rural Bike Rides in Montana

Riding my bike is one of my favorite things to do. Whether I’m riding a single gear around the city, mountain biking on a trail, or riding on the streets - I just love being on a bike. Since moving to Montana, I live in a remote location surrounded by dirt roads and beautiful country side. The mountain views and crystal clear streams and creeks make riding a bike a very pleasurable experience. There is something about riding a bicycle outdoors that allows you to fully take in the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. I drive down these roads all the time, but it is not the same as riding a bicycle. If I had the choice, I would ride my bike over driving a car every time.

I recently have gone on a handful of rides near our place. Most of these roads are dirt roads and I use my mountain bike to ride on them. It is so majestic to ride out in Montana in June. The weather is absolutely perfect and wearing shorts and a T-shirt after a long winter never felt so good.

Below are some pictures of my rides and I hope you enjoy :)