Chech out west 2019

[Chechem]

Glad you guys are entertained. 

This morning we're going into the park.  Not going to Lamar Valley, where the action remains hot; going to Hayden Valley - home of the Wapiti Wolf Pack.  The lead wolf (alpha female) is a white female.  Nobody's seen her lately; prolly at the den.  Not likely we'll see her, but there's other good stuff there.  I'll try for pics.

This afternoon my son and his wife arrive to join our growing group of enthusiasts.  Last night we had a cookout at the Rainbow Point Campground; 6 of us fishermen.  One guy caught 4 yesterday; most of us only 1.  Slow yet.  But those who know say the lowering of the lake during early May messed up the trout migration.  They'll be back in our section of the lake within a week.  Woot.

[2Stater]

Glad you guys are entertained. 

This morning we're going into the park.  Not going to Lamar Valley, where the action remains hot; going to Hayden Valley - home of the Wapiti Wolf Pack.  The lead wolf (alpha female) is a white female.  Nobody's seen her lately; prolly at the den.  Not likely we'll see her, but there's other good stuff there.  I'll try for pics.

This afternoon my son and his wife arrive to join our growing group of enthusiasts.  Last night we had a cookout at the Rainbow Point Campground; 6 of us fishermen.  One guy caught 4 yesterday; most of us only 1.  Slow yet.  But those who know say the lowering of the lake during early May messed up the trout migration.  They'll be back in our section of the lake within a week.  Woot.

Good stuff! You haven't had a bad day yet. And we are indeed, enjoying the pics.

[Chechem]

Thursday June 6th:

We went to Hayden Valley at daybreak, and saw a snowshoe hare (rare to see in YNP), lots of bison and elk, a big grizzly, bald eagle, etc etc...  Good morning, and home by noon.





Snowshoe Hare:






Elk in velvet:


Grizzly through the scope:




Red Squirrel:

[ricky023]

Wow Chechem, the hare was really a delight. I like the old looking Bison. RTR!

[N.AL-Tider]

Really cool pics.  But if you don't mind, let's not discuss hair, aight?

 

[Chechem]

   You guys!

Thursday addendum:

During the afternoon we found lots of goodies in the park.



While looking at nesting herons, we saw these two buddies.  One is a male Blue-winged Teal (left), and the other is a Cinnamon Teal.  What, no dates?


Young griz

[Chechem]

Friday June 7th:

Excellent day in Lamar Valley.  We saw 17 bears today.  It was nuts.  One was on a moose carcass.  Also saw a moose with twins babies, baby ducklings, baby bison, baby pronghorns, baby elk, baby owls, baby peregrine falcons, etc.  Great day.

Wolves?  It was rainy, and they stayed inside all day.  None of the wolf watchers saw any at all.  Maybe tomorrow.  They'll be easy to track in the snow.  
 

Forgot to mention these Harlequin Ducks that were playing in the LeHardy Rapids.  They swim in the most rough water, diving for food among the rapids.



Babies and Mama Lesser Scaup:



Great Horned Owl and babies (white things at right):



Cinnamon Black Bears, Black Bears, and Grizzly (most were all too far away):

[Chechem]

More:

Black bear munching grass:


Baby:


Teenager elk (right at the car window):

[Chechem]

Saturday June 8th:

It's snowing.  My car is covered, but the roads look okay.
 


The one in the foreground is my car.

[2Stater]

Just now catching up on your pics from the last few days, Chech. Just outstanding! Hard to fathom getting snow in June. 

[ricky023]

Snow looks cold and beautiful. Well done sir. RTR!

[N.AL-Tider]

Wow!  All those babies...Incredible pics Chech. Thanks for sharing. 

[Chechem]

Saturday June 8th:

We awoke to about 2" of snow today.  Dunraven Pass got much more, and it was closed.  So we drove north through Mammoth to get to Lamar Valley.  Along the way we saw grizzlies lying in the snow, and nesting swans at Swan Lake.  At Mammoth upper terrace we saw a black bear.  Then we found several wolf watchers we know at Nature Trail.  They showed us 4 of the "8-mile" wolf pack.  They'd seen puppies earlier in the week, but none were seen by us.  Fields of snow, and silhouetted wolves!  

In Lamar the snow got worse, and at one point we couldn't even see the bison in the meadows 100 yards away.  The wind howled from the west, and all bison started moving east.  Some were running, and most were in long lines.  They streamed toward "Hitching Post", where the Lamar and Soda Butte Rivers joined.  As 4 bulls crossed the road one paused to almost lick my friend through the open window.  Later we saw black bears at Hubbard Hill and Tower, then a Junction Pack black wolf near the old Buffalo Ranch in Lamar Valley (50-70 yds away).  Cool.  








See the ravens top right?


The grizzly in the next pic is up on that mountain.


Grizzly boar lying in the snow.




Black bear among the snowy trees.


Big bull heading east.


Coyote chasing ground squirrels.


Black bear near Tower Junction.


Mountain bluebells after the snow melted from them.

[2Stater]

Just beautiful! 

[Chechem]

Sunday June 9th:

My visitors had to catch a plane from Bozeman at 7pm yesterday, so we did a half day in the park.  Saw the geyser basins, Old Faithful, etc.  Then we drove into Hayden Valley and saw a friend: Ranger Lorna.  She told me where an elk carcass was.  We found it, and watched a wolf for half an hour.  He'd rip away a piece of meat and go flop down in the sage to eat.  We couldn't see him when he was down, but had good looks while he walked to and from.  No pics, because I was sharing the scope with my guests and Ranger Jon.  But a good day spent there.

Old Faithful


Peek into one of the hot springs


Geyser and pool at Lower Geyser Basin




Tree Swallow.  They are common in bird houses all over the area, but this one was actually nesting in a tree!!  How odd.  


Big bull bison sleping on the lawn of the historic Lake Hotel on Yellowstone Lake.

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