I've had 3 midnights in a row and they kicked my butt this week!! This coming week my schedule is more "normal" so I'm looking forward to that!! I have today off but Don had to work so I ran out to Market Lake this morning. Expected it to be busy but it wasn't so I was glad I'd gone.
While I was watching the Short-eared Owl out hunting I look in my side view mirror and here comes a Pelican flying low above the canal. They're always really spooked as soon as I stop so I waited in the car and watched to see where he'd end up. When he finally landed I slowly drove closer and managed to get one of my better shots of a Pelican.
Didn't see much else to make me stop and there was a car at the trees so I decided I'd go around the corner and start with the Burrowing Owl. Met Patti Pickett and she told me he was there and to watch for a couple other birds too.
The Burrowing Owl was in his usual spot and I spent some time watching him and snapping photos.
Sure glad there's one so close and easy to spot!!
Unless he's hunkered down in the grass that is!!
Then it was back to the trees for my walk. There were 3 Long-eared Owl young sitting at the beginning. I didn't stop as there was a family coming in and I tho't I'd be nice and let them see them too. I guess I should have stayed and watched them as they must have gotten too close and caused the owls to have to move. I finally found them again but way to the north.
They kept a close eye on me as I left.
I walked along the outside edge of the trees to see the Great Horned Owl family - the Magpies were sure squawking - the one tree was full of young ones!
Found the owls - 3 young and a parent.
And the parent.
Time to leave and see what else I can find. There were 2 Cinnamon Teal ducks that must've been fighting over a girl. They were really going at it!!
One of them finally paddled away with the girl !
I finally spotted the Willet that Patti had told me about - hidden in the grass was a little tiny baby!!
And a tiny little Kildeer was running back and forth across the road and hiding in the grass.
Was a great way to spend the morning of my day off!! Now it's back to work tomorrow!!
Had the car all loaded yesterday morning - went to get gas in the car and there's that darn Check Tire light on. So I stopped by and Don checked it and said I better take it in since it keeps doing it. So after about an hour there I was finally on my way - I was heading for the interstate to go to Market Lake.
And the phone rings.
And I answered it.
Yes, I have caller ID but I didn't have that many hours at WinCo this week and they had 8 hours available if I wanted them. So I said yes and came home and unloaded the car.
But I made it out to Market Lake this morning. Went and checked the Burrowing Owl first. And I finally got some photos of him on the ground!
When he's sitting like that he looks quite plump!
I tho't he was going to fall asleep - he kept closing his eyes - but then some noise would get his attention and he'd open his eyes again.
He sure watches the sky sometimes - I couldn't see anything up there.
Then he had to work on his feet a bit.
I finally left him as a pickup came from the other direction and went to check the trees.
Found the Long-eared Owls - the kids and one adult.
And I also saw one kid and one adult of the Great Horned Owl family.
Saw lots of other birds - some got their photo taken - some didn't. Spied the Sandhill Cranes and their little one way out in the grass and the Short-eared Owl was out flying around in his usual area.
Glad I had the time to go!!
Have just a short shift later this afternoon so I ran out to Market Lake this morning. Usually not very busy out there during the week but today there were lots of people!
I'm always happy when I get lucky and find the Short-eared Owls sitting near the road and happier still when it's NOT on a metal post! This one even stuck around even tho' vehicles drove by him.
Aren't they just gorgeous??
Down the road I got lucky when the Sandhill Cranes were just crossing the road - and look what's following behind!! Yes, a Rubber Chicken!!
Isn't that baby a silly looking thing??? First time I've gotten a close shot of one - they're called "colts" - but they didn't stick around long and hustled that baby off the road and into the deep grass where you couldn't get a shot of him.
Finally seeing more Great Blue Herons - they're pretty spooky and hard to catch before they take off.
Just before I make the turn for the trees I stop for the White-faced Ibis.
I did spot this Long-eared Owl watching me.
But thanks to Adam Brubaker he showed me where a Northern Saw Whet Owl was perched. I haven't seen one in about a month and a half so it's nice to know there's at least one still around.
He's got himself what looks like a mouse.
I left him and went to see what else I could find!
A Black-crowned Night Heron.
Killdeer with - - is that a worm??
Found a Great-tailed Grackle - and his reflection.
A Short-eared Owl out hunting.
Babies!!
Then I found a new facebook friend - Patti Pickett - so I went to show her the Northern Saw Whet and she showed me where the Great Horned Owl was sitting.
And the Long-eared Owl babies.
Then we drove around the corner and found the Burrowing Owl.
I could sit and watch him all day!!
But I do have to work for a living. Found a Western Grebe on the way south.
And a Double Crested Cormorant with some lunch. I was glad he had his lunch to worry about - otherwise they dive or fly off as soon as they see a camera lens!!
Was a very good morning!!
How lucky am I that I got yet another day off to go to Yellowstone?? I only asked for 3 Sundays but I've gotten all 6 of them. I couldn't have asked for more!!
We're on the road at 5 am and going thru the entrance at West Yellowstone about 7 am. Weather calls for showers but we'll take our chances anyway. It was all quiet as we head to Madison - nothing going on. We only have one small Bison Jam and they don't stay on the road long near Gibbon Meadows.
All quiet until we get past Roaring Mountain and we find a few people on the road taking photos off to the east side. At first all we see is a Bison but as we clear the small hill we see a Black Bear. I didn't have long with it before it took off for the cover of the trees and poor Don had to park the truck and he didn't even get to see it. We've seen Grizzlies but never a Black Bear in this area so it's a first for us.
The rest of the drive was quiet - in fact I didn't even take another photo for an hour and a half!! We drove down to Tower - once again we knew that was where the bears were hiding. To - once again - find NONE!! So back the other way we went and turned to head thru Lamar Valley.
I'm watching down and Don happens to be watching up higher and makes the spot of the Black Bear and 2 cinnamon cubs coming down the hill just before Yellowstone bridge. Plenty of parking room (we're the only ones there!!) so we're off the road and we're out of the truck. There's a small creek between us and the bears and we follow along from up on the road.
Not many chances for a shot of all 3 but here's the family. They slowly make their way along the creek and down the hill.
And finally a drink at the creek before they head up the hill.
We drive clear thru Lamar Valley which is full of Bison as far as the eye can see.
This photo doesn't even do it justice!
Anyway - the only thing we see in Lamar Valley is Bison, Sarah & Travis Bowen and a few Coyotes way way way across the valley. So we're on our way after a visit.
The Black Bear with the 2 cinnamon cubs is at the Yellowstone Bridge but they're resting and we only catch a glimpse of them when they raise their heads. Since we've come that far a run over to Tower is called for before we have lunch. We find a Black Bear grazing near the road so stop for a few photos.
But just down the road we find the Black Bear with the 2 new cubs that we saw last week at the Tower store. They aren't real close to the road and back behind lots of deadfall so we don't stay long.
We eat our sandwiches in the parking lot at Tower - hoping something will come along in the grassy area below the parking lot - but nothing does. So we put everything away and head back down the road.
We had planned on a drive up Dunraven Pass but it's closed because of the snow they had so we decide to make a trip up thru Lamar Valley again. So down the road we go. The family of Black Bears with the 2 cinnamon cubs is now across the river and snoozing under a tree. About all we see are ears so we don't stay long.
But just before the Yellowstone Picnic area we find people out of their cars and just below the picnic tables a Fox is standing like a statue - hoping to catch some lunch.
He finally gives up on whatever only he can hear and heads thru the sagebrush.
Looks like it's going to be nap-time pretty soon!!
Still nothing happening in Lamar Valley.
This time we stop at Slough Creek - maybe we'll happen upon something. We do find some Pronghorn and Mule Deer but without some help we can't spot the Junction Butte wolf den that is miles away so we load back up and head out.
The Black Bear family is still snoozing at the Yellowstone bridge - still out of site except for a few ears now and then so we head back to Tower. We find a new Black Bear in one spot but down the road we find the Black with the 2 COY are closer to the road. Not sure how - with all the traffic - but we were the first to spot them so started yet another Bear Jam!! She acts like she wants to cross the road but usually about the time she tries a car stops in her way to photograph her. The babies are up in the deadfall - wrestling and climbing trees.
What fun to watch!!
When a Ranger finally shows up we head to the truck and load up to leave. We can see there's something going on past Roosevelt but decide to check on the snoozing bears one more time. Nothing happening so now we can head over to see what's going on.
And it's yet another Black Bear and a yearling cub. No one is stopping - they all just drive by and take some photos and go on but we spot a parking spot and pull off the road.
This is Mom.
And the cub finally comes out of the sagebrush.
THAT'S definitely a Keeper!!
Once again the bears disappear over a small hill and since no one can see her the Ranger that finally arrived ordered everyone back to their cars. Safety First!!
We wish we could just keep cruising back and forth - looking for bears - but we both have to work on Monday. We finally got home about 8:30 pm - enuf time to download photos and start thru them before I gave up and headed to bed.
This may be our last trip to Yellowstone for the Spring. The last couple of years we've taken a 3-day weekend over Memorial Weekend and spent it in Yellowstone but I didn't ask for those days off and Don has to work Saturday and Monday anyway. We'll have to see what happens after that - we might make one more trip before we give it up to the tourists.
