Yellowstone opened for the season on Friday and I got Sunday off so Don and I loaded up the truck and were on the road shortly after 5 am. Weather forecast wasn't good but we never let that stop us!!
We rolled on by our Pika spot with plans to stop on the way home and then at Madison we went south towards Old Faithful to see if we'd get lucky. I guess we did if you count Bison!!
That was all we saw so it was back to Madison and on to Norris and then Mammoth. After leaving Mammoth we crossed the High Bridge and just before you get to Undine Falls I'm looking off to my right and up above us walks a Black Bear!! It was snowing SO HARD that I didn't get a single usable photo of him - he was behind the trees and kept moving and finally got ahead of us and then he quickly darted across the road. Always fun to see an animal where you've never seen one before!
That was it for excitement for awhile - we pulled into the Yellowstone Picnic Area and found a couple Bison heading towards us so we got out for some photos of them.
Just down the road we found a pull-out with cars, people and cameras so we found a parking spot and got out to see what was going on. Somewhere out there in the sagebrush was a Black Bear on a carcass and we only had to wait a bit before he raised his head.
There wasn't much more action than that so we finally packed it up and headed down the road. And what do we find???
A Baby Bison!!!! (My favorite!!)
That was the only one we saw all day so I was glad he was close to the road. Since the herd of Bison were getting closer we got back in the truck and didn't make it too far and had to stop for a few shots of a Pronghorn.
Lamar Valley is greening up and full of Bison.
We finally found the Wolf Watchers at the big parking area just past Hitching Post. They were watching Wolves on a carcass in Soda Butte Creek. They were about 300 yards out from the parking area and the parking area was full so we drove on by and when we came back a few cars had left so we pulled in to watch.
The first shot - I took that from the truck as we drove on by.
Then another Wolf came to the carcass.
We had our lunch while we watched and finally headed back thru Lamar Valley. Where the Lamar River goes thru Lamar Canyon I had seen 2 Ravens sitting on something in the river - I tho't that was odd until I figured out it was a carcass so as we came back thru we stopped to find it.
But we got side-tracked by 2 Marmots!!
Don and I tho't this was probably the male.
And this one the female.
She kept an eye on us but he was out and about.
He finally went up on a rock and for some reason he reminded Don and I of someone else we know.
Wonder who it is . . .
Oh well - it'll come to me.
And here's that carcass in the river that we'd stopped for.
The Black Bear was either gone from his carcass or just snoozing so we couldn't see him so it was a quick stop for us. But down at the Yellowstone River Bridge we found cars lining the road. They had spotted a Cinnamon Black Bear just off the road.
Our next stop was at the entrance to Petrified Tree - which is still closed to cars - so we parked at the end and got out for a walk. We met a couple guys who said they had seen a Black Bear but the only thing we saw was a Steller's Jay so he got his picture taken.
Oh! I forgot the Kestrel we saw just before we parked.
The last thing I snapped a photo of was the Bachelor Elk that always hang out in the same spot. The antlers are already starting to come in good.
We stopped and checked for Pika but it was rainy and windy - I don't blame them for not being out!
And that was our trip! Pretty good for our first one of 2017!!
Thanks for looking!!
I had yesterday off so I loaded up and was out of the house at 8 am with the camera. As I drove down Sunnyside I could see an Osprey hovering over a little pond by the road - it's called Ryder Park - but with the traffic I couldn't get over so hit the interstate and went on north.
My first stop was to check the spot Patty Pickett took me to for the Burrowing Owl. I parked and could see one at the far-away spot but then about half-way between that and me I spotted a pair of Burrowing Owls watching me.
Hoping this pair will produce a family and I can check in on occasion! Over to the left a ground squirrel kept an eye on them.
I watched for a bit but they were getting very sleepy.
When I left I about drove right on by a Golden Eagle sitting just off the road. Couldn't believe he didn't leave when I stopped and he was still there when I left.
From there I went up to Hamer, Idaho to make a visit to Camas which is also a National Wildlife Refuge. I was looking for Short-eared Owls and found quite a few.
I know - it looks like I should straighten my camera out but he's sitting on the side of the road.
Down the road I found some Yellow-headed Blackbirds singing right next to the road.
Back to the south I headed and made a stop at Market Lake. It's still pretty slow there. I did get lucky and find a pair of Sandhill Cranes close to the road. Here's one of them.
I was also lucky and spotted a Porcupine! What a Cutie!!!
There were still some Snow Geese out on the water. The dark one is what's called a "blue-morph" Snow Goose.
There were Red-breasted Mergansers
A nice Ruddy Duck
And a Cinnamon Teal pair floating by a Mallard pair.
Today - Have to work later but since this Ryder Pond is close I drove over this morning with my camera. I was the only one there this morning so just sat in the car and watched the birds.
The Osprey did a fly-over but only stayed a minute and flew off.
A female Red-breasted Merganser caught what looks like someone's Koi from their pond.
A Great Blue Heron moved to the far side from me and moved in when the Mergansers caught another fish. None of them ended up with it!
Trying for another fish
Success!! More pond fish??
Usually it takes a bit to get it turned the right direction to go down but he must've practiced because it was down in an instant!
Waiting for something else to come by
An Osprey finally came back and he made a catch over in the corner from me and flew to the south with it.
Was a nice way to spend the morning!
What an amazing experience!!! I've lived in Idaho now for 27 years and I've probably heard every one of those years that it's time for the Greater Sage Grouse to put on their courtship display. But did I ever go see them? Nope.
Until my friend Patty Pickett took me out to see them today! I can't say Thank You enough times to Patty for sharing this experience with me!
We left at 6 am - you have to be there early because they don't do this All Day Long. It's an early morning ritual. I always assumed that you had to hide so they wouldn't be able to see you but Patty drives right up next to them and shuts the car off and there we sit.
When we get there the males are already Strutting Their Stuff. So fun to watch them! The females are nondescript and really don't show that much interest in the males. Some of the males are displaying right near the females but there are a few that appear to be displaying for - No One! There are no females anywhere near them!! But that doesn't stop them!
First I'm going to add a very short video of them - it's only about 15 seconds long - but you can see and hear them.
See how interested those ladies seem??
The sun isn't quite up yet but there's plenty of light to get some photos of them.
Those yellow sacs are filled with air.
With the morning sun coming up behind them it's a beautiful setting.
The females head out to the road - a few at a time - and then fly away. The males barely seem to notice and are still strutting their stuff! Suddenly the males all stop their displaying and get low to the ground and then take off - A Bald Eagle is doing a flyover. Our fun was over.
Now that I know where to find them I'm definitely going back!!
