We are unable to gain Internet access easily so this is just a note that trip reports will be posted later.
Basically we've seen 6 moose in 1.5 hours the day we got here, on day 1 another 6 moose, and this morning 4 moose. It is the year of the moose in the Grand Tetons!!!
We saw one grizzly, no photo, too rainy, and one wolf, too far away for a good photo. This is our last night here so wish us luck on seeing the famous grizzly sow #399 with her three cubs! We have seen this momma with triplets in 2006 so it's only fair to see her again right? Keep fingers and paws crossed!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Yellowstone Day 5 6/4/11
Yellowstone Day 5 6/4/11
We started late having spent the previous two days out all day with our friends the Newsoms. We traveled to Lamar and saw many folks scoping. We asked and apparently four coyote were chasing a wolf. They were so far away that we decided to move on.
Absolutely nothing was going on in Lamar this morning. Well, not until we had passed the Lamar river parking lot going west did my eye catch something – a Badger!! I had been eying this fresh dirt mound for a few days now and it finally paid off today. We watched two badgers pop in and out of their den for about 40 minutes. Much of the time it was just Rick and I.
After that we rejoined the scopes still watching the coyotes and wolf. We learned that two more wolves joined and they raided the coyote’s den killing three pups. Someone allowed us to use their scope and we could see the wolves and coyote. Again they were so far out so we didn’t look for long.
On our way out of Lamar, we confirmed that a nest in a tree near the river had an osprey in it. We also watched her mate flying above the river.
As we approached Petrified Tree we saw a few folks with their cameras pointed at some old logs on the grounds. It wasn't long before we learned the subject was a cute little weasel! Our very first! He posed very nicely for us a few times and considering how fast he moved I counted myself lucky to have gotten at least one decent shot.
In the evening we headed back through Lamar and all was quiet. Not even the badger would pose for us! It's a long, long trip home when you don't see anything exciting. But I'm in Yellowstone with the man I love and that alone makes me very happy!
We started late having spent the previous two days out all day with our friends the Newsoms. We traveled to Lamar and saw many folks scoping. We asked and apparently four coyote were chasing a wolf. They were so far away that we decided to move on.
Absolutely nothing was going on in Lamar this morning. Well, not until we had passed the Lamar river parking lot going west did my eye catch something – a Badger!! I had been eying this fresh dirt mound for a few days now and it finally paid off today. We watched two badgers pop in and out of their den for about 40 minutes. Much of the time it was just Rick and I.
After that we rejoined the scopes still watching the coyotes and wolf. We learned that two more wolves joined and they raided the coyote’s den killing three pups. Someone allowed us to use their scope and we could see the wolves and coyote. Again they were so far out so we didn’t look for long.
On our way out of Lamar, we confirmed that a nest in a tree near the river had an osprey in it. We also watched her mate flying above the river.
As we approached Petrified Tree we saw a few folks with their cameras pointed at some old logs on the grounds. It wasn't long before we learned the subject was a cute little weasel! Our very first! He posed very nicely for us a few times and considering how fast he moved I counted myself lucky to have gotten at least one decent shot.
In the evening we headed back through Lamar and all was quiet. Not even the badger would pose for us! It's a long, long trip home when you don't see anything exciting. But I'm in Yellowstone with the man I love and that alone makes me very happy!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Yellowstone Day 4 6/3/11
Yellowstone Day 4 6/3/11
We picked up our friends again this morning and just as we entered the park, the osprey that said goodnight to us the night before greeted us with a treat right off the bat. He had already captured breakfast and was enjoying it. We spent a good 30 minutes with him and these will be the best osprey photos we have ever shot. Just spectacular!
We decide to visit Hayden Valley first and again, we spot nothing on the way in. It isn’t until we make it all the way to Sedge Bay do we see our first predator sighting, no not a bear, a WOLF! A lone black wolf emerged from the woods and walked towards the hill side and off into the woods. We believe we would have had better viewing opportunities had the “photographers” with the “big lenses” behaved themselves and stayed put instead of running after the wolf. We didn’t let their poor behavior detract from this unique sighting for long. It was truly cool to witness her here.
A funny thing occurred while this was going on that we didn’t really notice until the wolf was out of sight. All of the marmots came out of their dens and were carrying on big time. Lots of chirps and running around. There were at least 6 of them, possibly more alerting each other of danger!
We head back to Mammoth on our way to Lamar Valley and just before the high bridge over Gardner River we see a momma elk who had just had a baby. We decide not to add to the congestion and shoot from the window instead of pulling over.
In Lamar, we came across a grizzly that was really high up on a hill, but this would be our friends’ first “naked eye” sighting of grizzly so we got an obligatory shot of her just before she went down the other side of the hill.
After driving to Pebble Creek we make our way back and join other folks who are keeping watch on a black bear. He had been eating on a meal and finally decided to cross the road to get a drink from the pond. He was backlit by the sun so the photos were not that great.
It was time to go home. It was 7:30pm and we had just talked about getting dinner at Town Cafe before they closed. It just wasn’t meant to be. We watched a mom and baby elk (may have been the same one we saw earlier in the day since it was the same area) walk into the road way just ahead of us. The baby's legs wobbled like a newborn's as she followed her momma into the grass. This is the last shot I got as the rest of the story unfolds. I’ll leave you with this photo and a link to the entire story of a very unique wildlife encounter. It was an awesome ending to an amazing day!
Link (copy and paste): http://aliciasramblings.blogspot.com/2011/06/up-close-and-personal-with-baby-elk.html
Here are some scenic shots I took in Lamar Valley:
We picked up our friends again this morning and just as we entered the park, the osprey that said goodnight to us the night before greeted us with a treat right off the bat. He had already captured breakfast and was enjoying it. We spent a good 30 minutes with him and these will be the best osprey photos we have ever shot. Just spectacular!
We decide to visit Hayden Valley first and again, we spot nothing on the way in. It isn’t until we make it all the way to Sedge Bay do we see our first predator sighting, no not a bear, a WOLF! A lone black wolf emerged from the woods and walked towards the hill side and off into the woods. We believe we would have had better viewing opportunities had the “photographers” with the “big lenses” behaved themselves and stayed put instead of running after the wolf. We didn’t let their poor behavior detract from this unique sighting for long. It was truly cool to witness her here.
A funny thing occurred while this was going on that we didn’t really notice until the wolf was out of sight. All of the marmots came out of their dens and were carrying on big time. Lots of chirps and running around. There were at least 6 of them, possibly more alerting each other of danger!
We head back to Mammoth on our way to Lamar Valley and just before the high bridge over Gardner River we see a momma elk who had just had a baby. We decide not to add to the congestion and shoot from the window instead of pulling over.
In Lamar, we came across a grizzly that was really high up on a hill, but this would be our friends’ first “naked eye” sighting of grizzly so we got an obligatory shot of her just before she went down the other side of the hill.
After driving to Pebble Creek we make our way back and join other folks who are keeping watch on a black bear. He had been eating on a meal and finally decided to cross the road to get a drink from the pond. He was backlit by the sun so the photos were not that great.
It was time to go home. It was 7:30pm and we had just talked about getting dinner at Town Cafe before they closed. It just wasn’t meant to be. We watched a mom and baby elk (may have been the same one we saw earlier in the day since it was the same area) walk into the road way just ahead of us. The baby's legs wobbled like a newborn's as she followed her momma into the grass. This is the last shot I got as the rest of the story unfolds. I’ll leave you with this photo and a link to the entire story of a very unique wildlife encounter. It was an awesome ending to an amazing day!
Link (copy and paste): http://aliciasramblings.blogspot.com/2011/06/up-close-and-personal-with-baby-elk.html
Here are some scenic shots I took in Lamar Valley:
Yellowstone Day 3 6/2/11
We picked up our dear friends, Carol Sue and Earl Newsom, at their hotel. On our way in we shared stories about what we had seen the days before.
Since this would be the first morning for Lamar Valley to be open after a major rock slide, we took that path. Just on the other side of Yellowstone Picnic area we stopped along with other viewers and saw a black bear. Apparently he had been eating on a meal and was now relaxing.
Not long after we spotted him, a coyote comes running out of the woods with the half eaten meal in his mouth. The crowd watched as he carried it down the hill and across the street and into some sage to enjoy his new found meal. The bear didn’t even seem phased.
After finding nothing else in Lamar Valley and eating a good breakfast at Log Cabin in Cooke City, we headed towards Hayden Valley via Mammoth and after passing Floating Island, we came across an elk with a really nice rack while it was sleeting. We entered Hayden Valley having seen nothing except for a yellow-bellied marmot near Hoodoos. In Hayden we came across a coyote just trucking along! His coat was so pretty!
Went all the way to Sedge Bay and drummed up a raven who followed us to several pullouts along the lake! We also took time out for the little guys: geese on the snow, several bluebirds, and other colorful birds. And also found the ice the wind had pushed up onto the beach of the lake a very interesting phenomenon. We stopped at the North Rim for a quick look but the howling, cold, harsh, wind drove us back to the car. The weather all day had been a mix of everything: sun, clouds, snow, sleet, rain and strong wind.
Traveling back through Mammoth to go home, we came across a cinnamon colored black bear. Couldn’t get a great shot of him but our friends surely enjoyed it!
And as if saying goodbye, an osprey perched perfectly on a tree above the river near Northeast entrance.
Since this would be the first morning for Lamar Valley to be open after a major rock slide, we took that path. Just on the other side of Yellowstone Picnic area we stopped along with other viewers and saw a black bear. Apparently he had been eating on a meal and was now relaxing.
Not long after we spotted him, a coyote comes running out of the woods with the half eaten meal in his mouth. The crowd watched as he carried it down the hill and across the street and into some sage to enjoy his new found meal. The bear didn’t even seem phased.
After finding nothing else in Lamar Valley and eating a good breakfast at Log Cabin in Cooke City, we headed towards Hayden Valley via Mammoth and after passing Floating Island, we came across an elk with a really nice rack while it was sleeting. We entered Hayden Valley having seen nothing except for a yellow-bellied marmot near Hoodoos. In Hayden we came across a coyote just trucking along! His coat was so pretty!
Went all the way to Sedge Bay and drummed up a raven who followed us to several pullouts along the lake! We also took time out for the little guys: geese on the snow, several bluebirds, and other colorful birds. And also found the ice the wind had pushed up onto the beach of the lake a very interesting phenomenon. We stopped at the North Rim for a quick look but the howling, cold, harsh, wind drove us back to the car. The weather all day had been a mix of everything: sun, clouds, snow, sleet, rain and strong wind.
Traveling back through Mammoth to go home, we came across a cinnamon colored black bear. Couldn’t get a great shot of him but our friends surely enjoyed it!
And as if saying goodbye, an osprey perched perfectly on a tree above the river near Northeast entrance.
Friday, June 3, 2011
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Up Close and Personal with a Baby Elk
The day started out great, but ended with an experience we shall not soon forget.
It was nearing 7:30 PM as we headed home to Gardiner. We were really looking forward to a big hot meal after spending a long day in the park. A mile or so south of Mammoth in Yellowstone National Park, we spot a momma elk and a wobbly legged calf. After comparing notes, we believe it's the baby elk who had been born earlier in the day that we passed by on our way to Lamar Valley.
My husband, Rick, was driving Earl and Carol Sue's car and slowed down as the pair crossed the road. Momma pushed on into the tall sage just on the other side of the pavement in front of us but baby didn't want anything to do with it. She wobbled back onto the road and headed straight for the car, so Rick stops to ensure the baby's safety. We all fully anticipated her to get scared by the big, noisy, metal contraption and return back to her mother, but she didn't, and continued walking our way.
Before we knew it, baby sniffed the front of the car on the passenger side, then the tire, and despite momma's alarming calls, she decided it was time to take a nap against our tire!
We were perplexed! We had never been in a situation like this before. We yelled "boo" and "scram," but she wouldn't budge! We knew not to touch wildlife in any way whatsoever, so nudging her was out of the question. We thought momma would eventually come and get her but she continued eating grass a few feet away from us with a watchful eye.
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| Sleeping Beauty from my view out of back passenger-side window. |
Shortly, we heard cars stopping behind us and people walking up to the car. Rick and Carol Sue got out on the driver's side to inform them what was going on and to direct them away from the baby. Some asked questions, others took photos.
About 20 minutes later we realize we aren't getting out of this anytime soon and we have created a traffic jam! I make a call to 911 and Dispatcher Steve asks, "What's the emergency?"
"I'm sorry I called 911 because I'm not sure if you would consider this an emergency. But there is a baby elk sleeping next to our tire and we are stopped on a main road," I reply.
Dispatcher Steve chuckles and says, "Yes, this is definitely an animal emergency!" Steve gathers our location and vehicle description and says a ranger will be in route soon. He was so good natured and calming, assuring us we did the right thing.
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| The view from the back of the car on the driver's side. |
And, boy, did we receive some dumbfounded stares and nasty glares as onlookers drove by. If they couldn't see the baby elk, they hadn't a clue what was going on and probably called us a stupid tourist. Or worse, if they did see the baby elk under our tire, they probably thought we hit it. I would have paid high dollar for a sign that read, "We did NOT hit the baby elk. It's sleeping!"
Not only did the ugly stares concern us, but momma crossed the road away from her little one. Okay, the truth is only us girls were concerned. The boys tried to assure us that momma will come back, but she had walked so far away, probably due to the traffic congestion.
An hour after this all started, Ranger Joe drives up, surveys the situation and tries the "boo and scram" yelling technique we found useless. Rick and Carol Sue light-heartedly tell him we already tried that and he laughs and shakes his head. He moved on to a ranger's next priority - the first ensuring animal and human safety, of course - and began directing people back to their cars and moving the traffic jam along.
The road finally clears allowing Ranger Joe to work his traffic directing skills to get us out of our wildlife emergency. Using dynamic hand gestures and vocal commands, he directs Rick to drive forward a little bit, wait, forward a bit more, wait, turn the wheel, forward just a bit more, and then finally we were able to clear the spot we had occupied for over an hour without any harm to Sleeping Beauty.
We were all amazed that the movement of the vehicle didn't state the baby; she didn't move one inch. While it may not have phased her, it was a bit tense for the rest of us, I must say. Plus, I was concerned that momma would leave her baby behind. Just before completely leaving her behind, I asked Ranger Joe if momma would come back for her baby. He assured me she would.
Later that evening, I discovered a voice mail from dispatcher Steve informing us that the ranger wanted us to know that 5 minutes after we left, momma came and got her baby and they walked off into the sunset.
Ahhhhh! Relief!!! As awesome as it was to be two feet from a wild newborn elk, I hope to never experience that again!!!
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Alicia White is an Award-Winning Speaker and Photographer. Each year since 2006, she and her husband Rick travel to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks to photograph the stunning landscape and amazing wildlife. To see some of their photos, please visit: www.facebook.com/YellowstonePhotos
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Yellowstone Day 2 6/1/11
Yellowstone Day 2 6/1/11
Couldn’t sleep a wink the night before so we didn’t get out until 7am. We decided we would visit West Yellowstone today, but first made our way from Mammoth through the east loop going as far as we can before the road closes towards Roosevelt. The sky was blue and the sun bright. An absolutely glorious morning!
We saw the typical bison and elk and came to the road closure turned around heading back. I saw “something” and asked Rick to turn around and just as he was gloating “I told you that was as stump,” a coyote emerged right next to that stump, the stump I had him turn around for. I guess I got lucky on that one and teased him that I saw the coyote the whole time.
We watched our first coyote of the season make his way through Blacktail Lakes coming along the ponds. Got some good captures of him sailing through the air and chomping on his morning meal. He wasn’t too close but I think what unfolded next offered an overall picture of Mother Nature at work. He walked along the edge of the bank and found a treasure trove of eggs and devoured them like a kid digging into chicken nuggets on a buffet line. We watched as the helpless ruddy ducks, geese and other water fowl honked and called out and swam in circles in an attempt to distract him but it was much too late.
As this was going on a sand hill crane flew in from the south. I took a couple of shots but what transpired next was hilarious. I didn’t think to bring the video camera out, but I think the long distance wouldn’t have done it justice. This poor crane was harassed over and over again by a black bird. Mostly the one gal was nagging at him but then a second would come in and sometimes a brown bird. Then the geese had to honk at him and scoot him on his way. Watching this big lanky bird dodge and duck from his attacker was the most ungraceful yet hilarious sight.
I could have watched this area all day long but West Yellowstone was calling, we hadn’t had breakfast, you know. So as we are heading down the west loop, we see some folks who tell us a large grizzly was heading from the South Twin Lakes to the North. We hoped back in our Jeep and we both found spots and set up and got some nice shots while sharing stories.
Back on the road and now more hungry than ever, we didn’t eye anything passed the Twin Lakes other than bison and elk. But that’s okay, we filled up on a delicious breakfast at Outpost and headed back home for nap. Not before stopping to see four baby lambs in Mammoth. We got front row and center as these babies and their moms stepped out from the river onto the road. Even got one nursing. Not too bad on this glorious day!
This evening we were able to access Lamar Valley after being closed since last Saturday due to a rock slide. It was fairly quiet visitor wise and animal wise. We saw a large Grizzly on a hill, some big horn sheep and a badger. That was about it! Off to sleep for another exciting day in Paradise Park.
Couldn’t sleep a wink the night before so we didn’t get out until 7am. We decided we would visit West Yellowstone today, but first made our way from Mammoth through the east loop going as far as we can before the road closes towards Roosevelt. The sky was blue and the sun bright. An absolutely glorious morning!
We saw the typical bison and elk and came to the road closure turned around heading back. I saw “something” and asked Rick to turn around and just as he was gloating “I told you that was as stump,” a coyote emerged right next to that stump, the stump I had him turn around for. I guess I got lucky on that one and teased him that I saw the coyote the whole time.
We watched our first coyote of the season make his way through Blacktail Lakes coming along the ponds. Got some good captures of him sailing through the air and chomping on his morning meal. He wasn’t too close but I think what unfolded next offered an overall picture of Mother Nature at work. He walked along the edge of the bank and found a treasure trove of eggs and devoured them like a kid digging into chicken nuggets on a buffet line. We watched as the helpless ruddy ducks, geese and other water fowl honked and called out and swam in circles in an attempt to distract him but it was much too late.
As this was going on a sand hill crane flew in from the south. I took a couple of shots but what transpired next was hilarious. I didn’t think to bring the video camera out, but I think the long distance wouldn’t have done it justice. This poor crane was harassed over and over again by a black bird. Mostly the one gal was nagging at him but then a second would come in and sometimes a brown bird. Then the geese had to honk at him and scoot him on his way. Watching this big lanky bird dodge and duck from his attacker was the most ungraceful yet hilarious sight.
I could have watched this area all day long but West Yellowstone was calling, we hadn’t had breakfast, you know. So as we are heading down the west loop, we see some folks who tell us a large grizzly was heading from the South Twin Lakes to the North. We hoped back in our Jeep and we both found spots and set up and got some nice shots while sharing stories.
Back on the road and now more hungry than ever, we didn’t eye anything passed the Twin Lakes other than bison and elk. But that’s okay, we filled up on a delicious breakfast at Outpost and headed back home for nap. Not before stopping to see four baby lambs in Mammoth. We got front row and center as these babies and their moms stepped out from the river onto the road. Even got one nursing. Not too bad on this glorious day!
This evening we were able to access Lamar Valley after being closed since last Saturday due to a rock slide. It was fairly quiet visitor wise and animal wise. We saw a large Grizzly on a hill, some big horn sheep and a badger. That was about it! Off to sleep for another exciting day in Paradise Park.
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