05/28/2019
Just got back from a few days in and near the East Pryors, Carbon Co., Montana, with Paul Hendricks, Ernie McKenzie, Barb Pitman, Hilary Turner, and Dan Casey. Documented Gray Flycatchers in the East Pryors for the first time and found Blue-gray Gnatcatchers in moderate numbers in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area to the east. Also found a Pinyon Jay nest in the NRA, a first for Paul and I. Bonus was the singing male Black-throated Sparrow in the East Pryors that we found on 23 May. A new state bird for all of us, and only the 14th record for Montana. The Black-throated Sparrow is near and dear to my heart on the basis of my very first publication, in 1980, which documented them nesting in Idaho for the first time. Alas, we returned to the site two days later and searched for an hour in perfect weather, but the bird was gone. This is typical for the species' occurrence in Montana. They tend to be seen once, then not again, usually from mid-May through June. Photo of the bird, in a Utah Juniper, by Paul Hendricks.
