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Friday, May 6, 2011

The High Flying Birds of Wyoming and Montana Plus One Low Crawler

The Magpie; probably the most common and most notable bird in the area
This Magpie was in the forest around the Mammoth Hot Springs

I captured this close up photo when the little sneak tried to rip into my
garbage back in the back of my truck.

The common Robin is everywhere in the forest and brush lands as they are nesting and put up
a display for me when I pass so that I will miss their nest chasing them.


The Mountain Chicadees are searching the trees and bushes for food and are a difficult
subject to photograph as they are rarely still and very tiny.
These little birds can be found in trees bushes and along watery areas such as streams and rivers
The Mountain Blue Birds are also out and about and can be almost always
be found in matted pairs with one being much lighter in color. This was a darker Hued bird



This pretty American Kestrel was photographed in the Bridger Area outside of Bozeman and I think is one of the
most colorful birds around.



Red Shafted Flicker in tree in upper Mammoth Hot Springs Yellowstone National Park

This very pretty Red Shafted Flicker is nesting in a tree right outside a residence in Mammoth Hot Springs
Took me several days to get this photo but since I found the nest more shots will be forth coming.

Red Shafted Flicker outside of next...hole in tree.

These Two matted Red Tail hawks were a long ways almost out of my camera lens reach.
They were soaring and playing around together near their nest.
Would we have birds without snakes?
After a rather uneventful lunchtime hike I came across this Bull Snake on the trail and did a nice jump
to avoid him/her.
As I repositioned to get a better photo, he slid backwards into his hole.
I know where he hides and you can expect I will be back for more of this guy.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Paradise Valley, Montana

 You have to watch for wild animals along the road with elk, deer and antelope coming down the mountains to feed on the grasslands of the Paradise Valley. Much of the area is fenced off for private property so you have to be careful of the humans as well as they are very uptight about anyone crossing
their land. You still can enjoy the views regardless of the ranchers, farmers and uber rich that have staked out major claims here in one of Montana's most beautiful valley.
Paradise Valley has the Yellowstone river flowing right down the middle of it

There is paradise and death in this valley as you can see with this elk killed roadside

Emigrant Peak



Some of the best grasslands in the world are in this valley

Lots and lots of snow this winter

A couple of geese head out when I crossed their path along the Yellowstone River

This hill is the beginning of Tom Miner Basin








Absaroka Beartooth Range



A lone teepee sits on private property with the Absaroka-Beartooth mountain range dominating the background

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Yellowstone in the Spring: Birds, snow, buffalo and bear.

Lower Terrace Mammoth Hot Springs

Dormant Vent


This is Mammoth Hot Springs compound in Yellowstone National Park
 looking from the Upper
Terrace
Looking into the Blacktail Basin Southeast

Looking East Evidently some guy once got lost up on that plateau and spent many days
dodging animals and death



A natural volcanic event
Closer
Closer
Closer

Elephant Back in the Upper Terrace

Lava Creek

The Yellowstone multi-dominational church...I do not think this guy is waiting to get hitched?

Looking south towards the Blacktail Basin after a snow storm

We have had tons of snow here this year

It has been a very tough time up here for the animals and especially the Bison







Things are starting to perk up for the springtime and now we begin to see the animals coming out of the ground like black bears
Black Bear Tracks lead to bears

A large black bear soaking up the sun after his long sleep of five months

This spot is right on top of where he slept all winter in a dormant fumarole

He was checking me out
But decided to go back to his nap

Mountain Bluebird 

Lone Bison and his endless quest for green grass

More of the same