Phil Hilson Photography

06/20/2026

06/20/2026

Mountain Goat Kindergarten

A day on the Beartooth Highway brought 41 mountain goats, including a whole crop of energetic kids. The youngsters spent the day racing across the alpine tundra, splashing through snowmelt ponds, and bouncing up and down the mountainside while their mothers grazed nearby. It’s hard not to smile watching these little climbers.

06/18/2026

An adult Sandhill Crane and its growing c**t make their way through a Wyoming field

06/18/2026

found another spot where a Yellow-breasted Chat was hanging out. There’s a good reason these birds are heard far more often than they are seen. Most of the time they stay hidden deep inside dense shrubs and tangled vegetation, where their loud songs seem to come from everywhere at once. The first photo shows just how well they can disappear into the cover.

Only occasionally will a Chat pop out onto an exposed branch for a few seconds before slipping back into the thicket. To capture photos like these, patience is everything. I usually spend one to two hours quietly watching and waiting for those brief opportunities when the bird decides to reveal itself.

06/18/2026

I found another spot where a Yellow-breasted Chat was hanging out. There’s a good reason these birds are heard far more often than they are seen. Most of the time they stay hidden deep inside dense shrubs and tangled vegetation, where their loud songs seem to come from everywhere at once. The first photo shows just how well they can disappear into the cover (Russian Olive tree).

Only occasionally will a Chat pop out onto an exposed branch for a few seconds before slipping back into the thicket. To capture photos like these, patience is everything. I usually spend one to two hours quietly watching and waiting for those brief opportunities when the bird decides to reveal itself.

06/16/2026

Saw 39 Moose in the Bighorn Mountains

06/16/2026

Moose Day in the Bighorns

39 moose spotted in a single day, from velvet-covered bulls to moose grazing among wildflowers and lingering snow. It was quite a show.

06/15/2026

A busy morning around Meadowlark Lake in the Bighorns! I really enjoy hiking around the area. So many of my favorite birds are hanging out. From a Dark-eyed Pink-sided Junco with its mouth stuffed full of insects, Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, and of course Canada Jay’s hanging around the Chief Sitting Bull campgrounds looking for leftovers, there was plenty of action to be had!