In the Wilds of Yellowstone, Every Moment is Magic - Animals in Lamar Valley - May 21, 2021

 I can't believe I'm finally coming to the end of reliving my Grand Teton/Yellowstone adventure through my blog posts!  May 2021 was a long time ago, but I still feel like it was last week.  I know I want to go again soon.  Soon!  I'm going to shoot for 2027...maybe in Fall.  

As always, please click the links below to see the rest of the series!

Previously in the Grand Tetons/Yellowstone series:

Jackson Hole, Grand Tetons Day 1, Jenny Lake Campground, Elk Herd

Beautiful Jenny Lake, Foxes and Bears

Lovely Vistas full of Bison and Horses

Mormon Row, Pronghorn Antelope, and Ravens

Wildlife Art, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Colter Bay, and Ground Squirrels

Colter Bay to South Yellowstone

Black Sand Basin and Bison

More Bison, Old Faithful, Biscuit Basin, and Beginning of Artemisia Trail Hike

Hike to Morning Glory Pool! Plus Bison with Red Dogs, Elk, and Coyotes

Grizzly and Wolf Center in West Yellowstone

Fountain Paint Pots and Grand Prismatic Spring

Mama Elk for the Win! Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Surrounds

It's Elk! It's Birds!  It's Mammoth Hot Springs Campground! 

Tour around Mammoth Hot Springs!

Landscapes and sights on the Northern road

So my title is kind of a misnomer...  I said "in Lamar Valley" but as I later found out, I never really made it inTO Lamar Valley.  I only made it to Slough Creek which is the western edge of Lamar Valley. Oh dear.

But like most of my time in Yellowstone, I saw animals.  Much wildlife!  My heart was happy.  My soul was at peace.  And this is a photo essay of the animals I saw in western Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park!

I stopped at Undine Falls and saw a new bird for me.  A lifer as we birders call it (and I use the term "birders" loosely for me haha).  A Vesper Sparrow in the snow. 

 And then I drove through the windy hills until there was a hill on my right side and a small valley on my left.  There was a herd of bison in the snow in the distance.  And they had babies!

They also had coyotes ranging around them.  I saw three I believe.  They had their eyes on the babies, but seemed wary of the adults. 

A little further up the road, some bison decided - as they do - that they would rather be on the other side.  It created a small bison jam. I don't know why the car on the other side is sideways though.  Strange. 

And then a little further, there were some crossing the road from the opposite direction!  This was a popular bison crossing apparently. 

A short while later, I had left the snow behind (or so I thought.  Some more would fall on me at Slough Creek and it was so magical.) and was starting down into the valley when I saw a tour bus on the opposite side of the road.  The guests were looking through scopes towards a hill on their side.  I quickly pulled off the road and grabbed my camera with my 600mm lens on it. 

There was a Big Horn Sheep ewe!  I've always wanted to see Big Horn Sheep!  I got two photos and this is my best one.  :)

It always pays to stop when you see people with scopes.  Except when I stopped as Slough Creek hoping for wolves.  haha  They were long gone by the time I got there. But anyway, there was more to see!  Lots of bison with their red dogs!  And Pronghorn!  I took so many pictures of pronghorn but very few turned out decent.  They were quite a ways away. 

So many bison!

When the snow started to fall on me at Slough Creek, I was talking to one of the wolf watchers who told me that another storm was coming in.  That made me very nervous.  I knew I had to go across a pass in Idaho on my way home (which was a different route than what I had taken to Grand Teton on the way in) so my already anxious brain was now on high alert.  

I thought I was already in Lamar Valley proper so I decided to head back through Mammoth to West Yellowstone and hopefully beat the storm.  So off I headed back west.  

Back in the snow, my adventures were not over!  I saw a pronghorn in a wide turnout.  He didn't even look at me when I pulled past him, pulled over, and got my camera out!

A short time later, I pulled off again for what I think may be one of my best photos of the trip.  A lone bison (the herd was a short way off) standing just off the road. 

I was just about to Mammoth when I saw three Elk in the bushes just off the road.  I pulled over again because of course I did!

At this point, I was getting quite a bit anxious as the clouds continued to become darker.  It was only mid-day but it seemed a little darker than it had been that morning. 

I started for Gardner to fill up on gas for the long road home and then headed back to West Yellowstone.  Except!  I had to stop once again.  For one, I wanted some video of the Roosevelt Arch.  for two, I saw a pronghorn in the exact spot that I had seen one the last time I went to Gardner!  Just before the North Entrance to the park in a little field there grazing.  I swear it's the same one. 

And then I was on my way home, racing (not really) the storm.  I did have to stop one more time as I saw my last bison just before the Norris Geyser Basin and it was such a beautiful, peaceful meadow that I needed to stop and photograph it. 

Okay, NOW I'm on my way home.

Did I mention I don't really drive in snow?  Well, that was put to the test as the snow was coming DOWN on Targhee Pass.  It was getting bad when suddenly I was headed down the other side.  Scared myself as my car hit some ice and slid along the lane as I was coming up behind another car, but luckily no crash and from then on it was smooth sailing. 

I didn't even stop except for bathroom breaks and to stretch my legs on my whole way back to California!  Unlike when I was going to Grand Teton and I needed to stop and take a long nap on the way. 

I thought I was done with the snow but I-80 thought different!  I couldn't believe it but it was snowing as I entered California and headed up to Donner Pass!  It wasn't as bad though so I was able to just keep going.  

What an unbelievable adventure I had!  It was so amazing and wonderful and I'm so glad I could calm my anxiety and take this beautiful trip!

 I'm so glad you've joined me for my photo recap of my adventures in Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks.  You should go yourself!  It's an amazing place that makes for some wonderful memories. 

xoxo

Nikon D600 with Nikkor 28 - 300 mm lens

Nikon D7200 with Sigma Contemporary 150-600 lens

Grand Tetons National Park - Beautiful Jenny Lake and Foxes and Bears!! Oh My!

Continuing my adventure through Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National parks!

Previous Posts (Click Links) :

1)  Through Nevada and Idaho!  Stopping at LDS Temples on the way. 

2)  Grand views of gorgeous Grand Tetons National Park + Jenny Lake Campground and Elk Herd

Wow!  Waking up to a beautiful morning in the Tetons is a great feeling!  I slept really well in the back of my car (although my sleeping bag is so warm!  Too warm almost.) and woke up pretty early and fairly bright - although I had no idea what time it really was since there is a time zone change from California.  

I got some toiletries out of the bear box and headed for the restroom when OUT popped my adorable camping roommate.  Meet Mr. Uinta Squirrel!

I felt terrible that I tried to stomp the rock into his hole the night before!  I just didn't want to trip little guy. My bad.  

He didn't seem to harbor any hard feelings and was happy to just hang out while I was taking photos of him.  He seemed very curious about what I was getting for breakfast though. 

He's so, so cute!  

And he wasn't the only cutie hanging around my campsite at Jenny Lake.  There were many gorgeous robins and chipmunks running to and fro in my little meadow too!

The chipmunks seemed a little disappointed that they couldn't find anything delicious around my fire pit and picnic table.  Next time!  I promise!

Anyway, I knew I didn't have a lot of time in the Tetons that day so I wanted to head out and figure out what's where, etc.  Since my time was limited and I had never been there, I just really wanted to explore and stop wherever I wanted to stop.  Usually for a photo op.  :)  Like this lone tree.  I love trees. 

I made my way back to the Jenny Lake loop road, which I had rather quickly driven the night before in my search for Jenny Lake campground. 

Oh my goodness.  Jenny Lake is really beautiful!  Originally, when planning  my trip, I had planned to do the hike around the lake and up to Hidden Falls.  I'm not even going to lie...I knew it wasn't going to happen this trip because I did not get myself into the shape I needed to be in to hike 8-9 miles at just under 7000 feet elevation. 

Seeing how gorgeous this area is, I really regretted my life choices that led to me standing here at the overlook unprepared. 

But I did take the opportunity to walk a little bit (a very little bit) along the trail that skirts the eastern shore of the lake.  The views along the overlook were simply breathtaking.  The blues of the sky and the lake were almost unbelievable!  

I ran into a few people who were hiking along (as well as some people in the overlook parking).

Most people were in small groups although I did see one solo hiker.  But I was very bear aware after everything I read and had been told thus far.  So I was a bit afraid to walk much farther than a couple hundred yards. 

There is a shuttle boat that you can take across the lake (it wasn't running yet as far as I can tell) which I also want to do in future.  I think I'll (get in shape!) hike most of the way and then shuttle back. We'll see.  But there are definitely a lot of reasons to return!

But for today, I had to content myself with a little stroll admiring the clear blue water and breathing in the fresh air.  

So dramatic!  I love this spectacular place!

But it was time to get back on the road.  :-)

Honestly, it's hard to figure out how to blog all the photos I took and places I saw...and that's just in about a 24 hour period spent in Grand Tetons!  Imagine if I had more time there on this trip and saw all the places I wanted and did all the things I wanted to do!  

After leaving Jenny Lake, I drove north on Teton Park road until it met 191, then head back south on 191/26/89 to Jackson for supplies/gas.  I figured I would see where things were (mainly Oxbow Bend, Schwabacher Landing, and Mormon Row for animals & photo ops) and stop for exploring/photos as time allowed.  I also wanted to stop at the National Museum of Wildlife Art before heading back north on Teton Park Road to see Willow Flats and Colter Bay before heading on to Yellowstone. 

This is pretty much what I did.  And I was SO LUCKY to see a lot of wildlife on my way!  

After pulling over to take a couple shots of Mount Moran (which really, REALLY looks like Jabba the Hut to me), I stopped at the Chapel of the Sacred Heart.

Just me??  Okay.  lol  I really see it though. 

I wasn't sure I was going to stop at the Church even though I usually stop at every picturesque church-type building I see when I'm on my road trips.  I actually thought it was closed due to Covid and, being on limited time, I figured I could just see it next time.  

But at the last minute I decided to pull into the parking lot.  There were a lot of people around and, as I was pulling out again, I saw people parked on the street in "I see wildlife!" pose.  So I pulled over to the shoulder and looked where they were looking.

Except I saw nothing.  Nada.  I was just about to give up when a cyclist pulled up behind me and started looking.  I asked if he could see anything and he very kindly came to my window and pointed to the beautiful, tawny fox!  It took me a minute but I finally saw it, just as it started trotting through the church parking lot towards the wilds. 

I flipped back into the parking lot pretty quickly (after profusely thanking the kind cyclist!) and jumped out of my car just in time to snap off a few photos before Mr. Fox went out of sight through the bush.  

There were two people who were quite literally chasing the fox through the brush, but I didn't want to do that so I contented myself with the shots and the experience.  I was soooo happy!  I had seen signs at the campground asking people to not feed the foxes and others had told me that they were "nuisances" but I hadn't seen any at Jenny Lake.  

I ended up seeing two more foxes on my trip - one near Cottonwood Creek picnic area and the other one in Colter Bay.  I wasn't able to pull over quickly enough at either to get a shot, unfortunately.  But it was so cool!

I headed out again and, just as I got to what I think is a Ranger station before the Jackson Lake dam, I caught a glimpse of brown fur on the green lawn!  Bears!!  I was so excited, I automatically turned into the Ranger station, but it was roped off.  I considered parking right there, but realized that it put me about 50 feet away from a mama bear and her two babies!  Oh my God!  

So, me trying to be a good girl, decided not to stop in the middle of the road and pulled down the little hill until I saw a turnout just before the dam. 

I quickly parked, curbed my wheels like a good Californian, grabbed my D7200 w/600 Sigma lens attached and ran my fat ass back up the hill towards the bears!!  

By the time I got back, there were about 15 cars blocking the road and people milling about.  The bears were still there and didn't seem too concerned, but they did move just into the tree line for shelter as they slowly lumbered south alongside the road.  

I was able to snap 3 pictures - 1 decent, 1 bad, and 1 very bad - here they are in reverse order:

This first one, I greyed out everything except exactly where the bears are.  My camera of course focused on the tree closest to me and I was huffing and puffing too much to try to manually focus. 

But!  You can clearly see one of the bear cubs on the left walking behind it's much bigger mother who is obscured by the branches of the tree.  But!  You can see her brown fur in spots.  lol

Here's another blurry shot of the other cub!  But you can see most of it.  This cub looked older and bigger, but not as big as mom. 

And finally, here is the best shot of the three!  Mom's whole body - in focus!!  But missing her face.  But!  Look at those cute ears!  Anyone able to identify a bear by its ears??

Maybe a grizzly?  They definitely seem rounder...

And there you have it.  My first ever bear sightings!!  So freaking fun and exciting!  And I got a little bit of exercise in the process, so that's always good.  

Next post we'll continue the trip around Grand Tetons National Park with more animals and amazing places.  Stay tuned!

 xoxo

Nikon D600 & D7200

Muskrat Love (and Lots More to Love!) At Modoc National Wildlife Refuge - Closeups!

Returning to Modoc National Wildlife Refuge which is just off Highway 395 in Northern California near Alturas.  In my last post, we saw the gorgeous landscapes which included various birds and mammals and even a couple of reptiles! 

Previous Post:  I Like Countryside!!

Now we'll get an even closer look at the amazing creatures inhabiting this beautiful wilderness area. Starting with this colorful caped-crusading Barn Swallow.

Flying Tern

American White Pelican

Muskrat!  Working hard but keeping an eye on me...

Oh my!  What is this beauty!  I believe it's a Yellow-headed Blackbird chowing down on a cattail!

Now this is a story of an adorable, but bad little baby who did not listen to her mommy.  Let's call her Fawn. 

As I came around the corner on the auto trail, this little cutie was nibbling at the grass on the left side of the road.

When she noticed that she was no longer alone, she seemed to remember that she was supposed to stay hidden.  She looked into the taller grass on the left and then looked around like, "No...that's not it..."

Fawn trotted a little ways up...

And then a little ways down...

She looked all over for the spot where she was supposed to stay put while her mama was away!

Looking a bit baffled, she crossed over to the right side of the road (I pretty much had my car parked blocking the whole road about 100 feet from her because it was just after a blind curve).  

"I just know my mommy hid me in the tall grass right around here somewhere!"

"Hmmm, maybe me and my little Bee friend should check the other side again..."

She walked back to the right side about 50 feet in front of my car where I couldn't really get a photo of her.  Twice she walked into the tall grass.  The first time she reappeared after about 30 seconds but stayed in the same area sniffing the grass.  Then she came about 8 feet closer and appeared to have found the spot!

She disappeared and I sat there (with one vehicle behind me at this point) and waited about 3 minutes to make sure she wouldn't pop back out.  She didn't so I think she found the spot.  :)  So much fun!

Are you mama??

And then...finally!  What I had come to see!  A Sandhill Crane!  If there was a chick, I couldn't see it.  Haha!  But at least I saw one of the damn Cranes!  And got a couple pretty good photos too. 

By the way, this was in the evening on my second pass through.  But worth the wait.  

And with that...I pulled off the Refuge and headed back towards 395 South.

And was treated to this young buck and another friend saying bye to me.  

Thanks for visiting Modoc National Wildlife Refuge!

xoxo

Nikon D600
Tamron Nikon Mount 150-600 F5-6.3 DiVC (handheld)