Spearfish Canyon SD and Devil's Tower WY

On this crisp morning, we headed to Spearfish Canyon as the sunlight was touching the top of the canyon walls. Our search was for the American Dipper. A common bird out west but not seen anywhere near our east coast home. We were excited at the prospect of seeing this bird in action. We began the day at Roughlock Falls down a dirt road to a nook on the canyon with the Little Spearfish River meandering though to tumble down the falls and continue onward. The first bird we saw was an American Redstart skulking by the stream and a Swainson's Thrush hunting insects from nearby brush.

We headed north through the canyon with its towering pine covered yellow walls and Spearfish Creek cutting through it. We stopped at the Bridal Veil Falls overlook high above the creek and peered down. Dan spotted the American Dipper on a log in the water preening itself. We watched this remarkable little bird, post preening, dip its head into the moving water, bob up and down on rock and log, and float with the gentle current to its next watery perch. 

We departed the canyon and headed to our next stop after a brief stop at the DC Booth National Fish Hatchery. Never seen so many trout in my life!

On into Wyoming and Devil's Tower National Monument. A puddle in one of the boulders at the base of the monolith attracted male and female Red Crossbills and a Spotted Towhee.

 

The pine woods near the parking lots had chattering Black Capped-Chickadee and white Breasted Nuthatch. 

The day was a great success as we finally got to see the wonderful American Dipper and a lot of equally fabulous birds in a variety of spectacular western landscapes