Red Rock Lakes Drive - June 21, 2016

Don and I finally got the same day off and had no other plans so we loaded up the truck and headed out at 6 am.  We do this drive every year when we get done going to Yellowstone - up Hwy 20 to Henry's Lake and we head back west on the north side of the mountain range and come out over on I-15 at Monida.  

It's not a drive if I don't roll the window down and take some shots of the Tetons at 65 mph.  

As we start to head west we stop for some Pronghorn laying in the grass and wildflowers.

Have I mentioned that I am The Queen of Weasels???  Hmmmm . . . The Weasel Queen???  Still not sure which sounds better . . . 

But I'm looking to the right and spot one on the rocks.  Lucky for Don and I he was the curious kind and we got some great shots of him!!  I was thinking we were probably lucky and got to photograph him for about 15 minutes but I just looked - it was only 7 minutes!!  

He finally came a bit closer . . .

So Stinkin' Cute!!

And he picked up something he'd dropped . . .

Poor Poor Ground Squirrel !!  He acted like he wanted to cross the road with his prize so Don and I moved out of his way - here's my last shot of him before he hid his prize and finally crossed the road a bit behind us and disappeared.  

Was a great way to start our drive!!

Took some shots of some of the signs along the way.

And we always stop for this one.

And this is Hellroaring Creek.
 

We stopped for a Mule Deer by the road.  She was very curious!

  
I was always snapping photos of the wildflowers so I'll just add those right here and be done with them!

And look at this shot of a little Butterfly!!!  Beautiful !!

By the time we quit going to Yellowstone we usually miss the Pronghorn babies so we keep an eye out for them on this drive.  These were close to the road but no babies with them.

Here's a little house we always stop for.  I always wonder what it's story is . . .

Just down the road a little shed of some kind.

There were 2 Sandhill Cranes out in the grass just around the corner.  These are really "rust" colored compared to the ones I've been seeing out to Market Lake.

One of the things we always plan on doing on this drive is getting some shots of the Mountain Blue Birds.  Part of the road - for miles and miles - has all kinds of bird houses.  Now it's just being sneaky enough to get some to sit still for us!!  We finally got lucky and a few did.

And looks like lunch is ready!!

Old machinery.

We did finally spot a Pronghorn with 2 little ones but wouldn't you know it - she's far from the road.  Oh well.

Couple more abandoned buildings.

As we usually do we had lunch at Stoddard Creek Campground.  A Ground Squirrel had climbed the sagebrush for a better look.

After lunch it was down the road to Camas Natl Wildlife Refuge.  I think Don and I have only been up here - this would be our 3rd time.  I just always have better luck at Market Lake so that's where I always go.

We did see some baby Coots.  I always say they have a flaming head !

And a White-tail Deer.

And one of 3 Eared Grebes we saw.

If they didn't have my Market Lake closed for road work this whole week we would've stopped there too but had to drive on by.  

Was a great way to spend our day off !!

Market Lake - June 15, 2016

Finally - a day off where I have time to make a run out to Market Lake.  I had to work a late one last night (11:30 pm) but I wasn't going to waste my day doing something like - - - sleeping.  

First up were the Pelicans that took off as I drove north.

I just about drove right by the Great Blue Heron as he stood along the far edge of the water.

Then it was around the corner and a bit east to check on the Burrowing Owl.  

And Look!!!!  

Is this Mrs. Burrowing Owl???

I'm pretty sure the paler one on the right is the one I usually take photos of.  The one on the left is much darker in color - and very shy also as she (?) didn't stick around long after I got there.  She flew to the other side of the road and out a ways and kept an eye on us.  

The lighter colored one sat for a time but eventually flew over to join the other one.
 

Maybe one of these days there will be little ones to photograph!!

I went back to the trees to look for owls and found the 3 Long-eared Owls sitting together on a branch.  They're looking more and more like adults everyday!

Lots of rabbits to see.

And I also spied a Weasel !!!

We stood and looked at each other and then he quickly disappeared.  I looked but couldn't spot him again.  

Back to check on the Long-eared - looks like nap time!

Walked out to the east side to look for the Great Horned Owls.  I walked quickly - trying to outrun the mosquitos!!!!

Here's one of the parents 
  

And one of the kids  
 

There was another of the kids just to the right of this one but he was back behind the branches so no shots of him.  Then I made a bee-line back to the car!!

Went back around the corner to check on the Burrowing Owls before I left and the pair of them were back by the road.

I left them as another car pulled up.  

Found another Great Blue Heron.

These were the "smallest" of the baby Canada Geese I saw.  Most of them - it's hard to tell the difference between the adults and the kids.

And I finally got an Eastern Kingbird to sit still long enough for some shots.

That was my morning!  Hoping to go back sometime tomorrow but we'll have to wait and see.