Yellowstone Natl Park - Day 6 - Sept 22

After another hearty breakfast, we packed our gear and headed for the park for the last time. We arrived to find some of the roads closed again - but that was ok - as we where headed to the Lamar Valley again in search of elusive wolves.

We not sooner entered the park area when we encountered our first surprise of the day..a bull Elk laying in the grass near the Visitors Center.

We next encountered a yearly Big Horn Sheep walking down the road....quite a unique site!!

The day was starting off quite nicely. As we traveled the Lamar Valley road we again saw many Buffalo and Pronghorns - but no wolves. Not discouraged, we continued driving toward the Pebble Creek campgrounds area we came upon what we thought was a Buffalo jam..but after asking a few questions about what was spotted - it  turned out to a Bull Moose jam. The Moose was standing in the field about 150 yards off the road..and as luck would have it - it came trotting toward the road and right in front of us...quite the sight - they are indeed huge!!!

Moose

After  the Moose encounter, we drove toward the Northeast entrance, and again observed some people looking at a rock face wall....and decided to stop and see what they where looking at..turned out to be several Mountain Goats standing on the rock face.after watching them a some time, we proceeded to exit the park and enter Cooke City for some late lunch.

As we re-entered the park for our return trip thru the Lamar Valley our hopes of seeing the wolves was renewed by all the other species we had seen already. A few miles after we passed the Pebble Creek area (where we saw the Moose) we saw a lot of cars parked along the road - again we stopped to see what everyone was looking at and where told a pack of wolves was bedded down in the field below us.

Quite excited, I immediately got out my scope and started looking for them...we no luck...but then several of them stood up and started walking toward to pine tree line...giving everyone excellent (if not distant) views. There was not chance to get any photo's and I and everyone in our party just enjoyed viewing the wolves as they faded into the mountains. Having seen them on NatGeo specials - needless to stay I was quite excited when I (and everyone else in the group) finally got to see them.

Some stock photo's of wolves from the NPS.

 

After some time of continuing to watch the area in hope they would re-appear, we continued our return trip and eventually with much regret, exited Yellowstone Natl Park for the last time on this trip. We ended up seeing every major species in the park - with the highlight begin the wolves and the moose.

As we returned to the rental home, we saw this Mule Deer walking along the roadway.....a fitting end to our day of wildlife viewing....and we where all looking forward to dinner and a good night's sleep before heading to the Bozeman airport and the flight home in the morning.

We are already planning another trip sometime in 2019..and I can't wait to return to Yellowstone...it truly is a national treasure.

Until next time - good birding

Not all that wander are lost

Middle Creek visit after Spring snow - March 23

I decided to make a visit to Middle Creek today - the 2 days after the first day of Spring nor-easter. As expected the tour road was closed as well as the boat launch area..but otherwise everything was operational. The roads where clear, and the snow is melting away.

I started my visit by stopping at the visitors center to see if and when the tour road would be opened again...typical of the game commission - they had no idea or at least would no commit to anything. The feeders where active and I tallied 11 species before I left....and proceeded to stop 1 and the lake.

White Throated Sparrow

On the lake where Common Merganser's, Ruddy Ducks, Coot and Black Ducks. On the pond across the road from the lake where mostly Ring Necked Ducks and a single Bufflehead.

Bufflehead

 

Also sitting near the edge of the pond was a Red Shouldered Hawk.

Red Shouldered Hawk

As I moved to my next location, I looked out over the lake and saw about 20,000 Snow Geese still there....the numbers have dropped but it was still an impressive site. I pulled over to the side of the roadway, near a flooded area, that had held Wilson's Snipe in the pass. I scanned the area...and sure enough...caught some movement....as it turned out there where 5 Wilson's snipe foraging along the 'shoreline'. I watched them for quite a while..as I don't get to see them very often a Middle Creek or elsewhere for that matter..a real treat.

Wilson's Snipe - look at center near edge of weeds.

2 Wilson's Snipe..look at center edge of weeds near the water line.

I left with a species count of 36 for the 2 1/2 hour visit.

Until next time - good birding

Not all the wander are lost

Yellowstone Natl Park - Day 5 - Sept 21

We awoke to a very cloudy day and snow - are we proceeded to the park entrance we where not hopeful that the roads would be open and sure enough - all roads except the road to Manmouth Springs and the Lamar valley where indeed closed. And as it was still snowing there was no time when it it was expected they would be opened.

As it turned out, this worked out just fine. We had not visited the Hot springs are yet...so what better time then in a snow storm. It did provide a rather spectacular setting to observe the hot spring. ass you can see from the photo below.

mammoth hot springs view looking down at parking area.

Overflow from hot springs...no snow here.

There is boardwalk that you can walk around the entire hot springs area, and although it was snow covered, it proved rather easy to navigate.

Mammouth Springs in the snow - wife and I

Mammouth Springs boardwalk entrance sign

After exploring the area, it was once again a quick drive along the Lamar Valley Raod in search of wildlife - and as usual we where not disappointed. we saw Pronghorn. Elk, Buffalo, Moose, Coyoto, Mule Deer and Bighorn Sheep.

Elk - a big bull in the middle of the photo

Sunshine on the mountain tops

 We did have one surprise

....a coyote in the parking lot as we where looking at Buffalo.

Another surprise as we where leaving for the day...some Black Tail deer...the first we had seen/

We exited the park about 7pm and returned to our rental for dinner and a good nights rest..tomorrow would be our last day in the park..how quickly time flies.

Snow Goose & Tundra Swan at Middle Creek Wildlife Area

It's March and that can only mean the annual Snow Goose show at Middle Creek Wildlife area has begun.....and as in years past..this year did not disappoint. As in the past few years, the Snow Geese arrived early this year - around mid February as the weather was quite warm (global warming???). There where an estimated 200,000 snows at the MCWMA the weekend of February 24th....however, that numbers have declined steadily since then.

Currently, there are about 3,000 Snows and about 400 Tundra swans at Middle Creek.

Snow Geese looking toward willow Point

Tundra Swan

Tundra Swan

Snow Geese looking from Willow Point

With the ice cover gone from the lake and ponds - there are also several other species of waterfowl showing up: Ring Necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Common Mergansers, Bufflehead, Amer Wigeon, Black Duck and Mallard.

There was also several Redheads (only seen they here once before by me) seen a week ago..and that was very nice surprise.

Ring Necked Duck

Great Blue Heron

Amer Wigeon

RedHeads

Looking forward to a year of good birding and more posting.

Not all that wander are lost.

Yellowstone Natl Park - Day 4 - Sept 20

Today our goal was to drive to the Fishing Bridge area ands VC, Hayden Valley, Yellowstone Lake and to stop and tour the Mud Volcano area of the park. When we arrived at the Park entrance the angers told us that all roads where open, but another storm was coming later in the day and they close at anytime. We decided to take our chances and headed for the Fishing Bridge area of the park. (see link below)

Fishing Bridge and surrounding area guide

The drive thru the Hayden Valley was beautiful, but very uneventful - as we saw very little wildlife (perhaps because of the weather), but the scenery more than made up for it. We decided to travel to the farthest point in our trip  - Yellowstone Lake. (see link below). The area in and around the lake is beautiful and the scenery is spectacular, however, we spend very little time there as the wind and snow where beginning to pick up...so decided to start our return trip a little earlier than expected. Below is a link to the Lake Yellowstone area.

Lake Yellowstone - looking East

Yellowstone Lake

Making our back, the next stop was the Mud Volcano area, this is quite an interesting place and we did end up spending quite a bit of time here exploring the area.

Here is a video link:

mud volcano video NPS

Mud Volcano - video

Mud Volcano - signage

Mud Volanco area

Wife & I at Devil's Cauldron area - Mud Volcano area

The weather didn't get any worse and the snow held off, so after a long day of touring the Fishing Bridge and the surrounding area, we began our journey back over the pass and our rental home ..arriving at 8pm...after a late supper everyone retired for the evening....having spend another wonderful day in Yellowstone.

Not all that wander are lost

Yellowstone Natl Park - Day 3 - Sept 18

After a hearty breakfast, we loaded all our gear and headed toward the Roosevelt gate and Yellowstone NP. As there was snow the night before we where not sure what roads would be open and what areas of the park we would be able to visit. As it turned out, the southern end of the park was closed - but we could get to our destination for the day - the Canyon Village VC and Falls area.

Canyon Village and surrounding Guide

During the drive to the Canyon Village area, we saw many more Buffalo, a few Pronghorns and several Elk. However our goal for the day was to see the Falls near Artists Point and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. After a stop at the Visitors Center, we proceeded to the access road leading to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Arriving at the parking area around 2pm (it was a 3 hour drive from the house rental)..we found a luckily parking spot (I cannot imagine what this is like in the summer - there where cars, bus, rv's and people everywhere). After parking we proceeded along the trail to view the Falls and canyon. 

As you can see the falls are spectacular. We enjoyed the view, but as clouds where rolling in and snow was beginning to fall...we decided to start our return journey - as only the one road was open and could close at anytime..we would be stuck on the wrong end of the park. 

It was an uneventful return trip and we arrived back at our rental around 6pm for a BBQ dinner and to plan the next days activites.

Attached is a short write up on the Falls

Way back in 1870, a member of the Washburn party, Mr. N.P. Langford described the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone in this way: “A grander scene than the lower cataract of the Yellowstone was never witnessed by mortal eyes.” That’s a more poetic way to say that the Lower Falls are a must-stop spot on any tour of Yellowstone National Park.

At 308 feet, the Lower Falls is the tallest waterfall in the park. In terms of height alone, it’s more than twice the size of Niagara Falls. The amount of water flowing over the falls varies greatly depending on the season. At peak runoff times in the spring, 63,500 gal/sec flow over the falls, whereas at lower runoff times in the fall, the flow diminishes to 5,000 gal/sec.

You can see them up close by visiting the platform at the Brink of the Lower Falls. Other spots to catch a glimpse of the falls include Red Rock Point, Artist Point, Brink of the Lower Falls Trail, Uncle Tom's Trail, and at various points along the South Rim Trail.

Not all that wander are lost

Yellowstone Natl Park - Day 1 & 2

Although we arrived in the area Saturday, September 16; however, our first full day in Yellowstone was Sunday, September 17.  

Our base was a home we rented in Gardiner, Mt - 8 miles nw of the Roosevelt Gate - the northern entrance to Yellowstone. Our goal for this trip was to see as much wildlife (bison, bear, elk and  hopefully the wolf pack) as we could and after researching the current blogs and travel sites - it seemed the Lamar Valley area was the best place to accomplish this. As you will see - it was quite simply put - overwhelming.

Below are a few link to maps and the official park website....check them out and be sure to look at the webcams.

Yellowstone Map

National Park Service website

We arrived at the North entrance by 6am to begin ur first day n the park....and no sooner had we started when we spotted our first wildlife - five pronghorn grazing in a file near the entrance...this was also our first photo op - with many more to follow:

Pronghorn Natl Park service link

As we proceeded into the park we encountered our first traffic (bison) jam...as a herd of Bison was crossing the highway all traffic stopped until they had all crossed - quite a unique site.

After the bison jam - it was decided that with snow - yes snow - forecast for the coming days - to drive to Old Faithfull - which would be the farthest point from our rental. The drive was specular and we arrived by 11am - toured the visitors center and took our seat waiting the geyser to erupt (as did many other tourists). Sure enough Old Faithful did erupt and we then moved on to the more specular geyser areas.

After seeing Old Faithful, we toured the lower geyser area  - making many spots along the way...this area is not to be missed - the geysers and hot springs where wonderful and the drive beautiful.

It was now after 5pm and we decided to begin our drive home. The drive was uneventful and we again saw Bison, Elk and Pronghorn. We arrived back at the rental home by 9pm...ending a long exciting day in the park - and looking forward to the next few days.