Grand Teton National Park, July 4, 2025....Update No. 4

 

While on the Uhl Hill Road we observed a herd of bison moving across our path. We pulled over to better observe them when a small number broke into a run...

There was no obvious reason for the "stampede", they just seemed to be in the mood for a faster pace...

Next, we explored the Bridger Teton National Forest where we found a black bear just ambling about near the road...

A little farther along we spotted a ruffed grouse on a log...

In a small patch of willows was a male white crowned sparrow...

Just after leaving one willow patch,

we surprised two young bull elk...

Next, we heard the singing of a green-tailed towhee...

Some of these roads are deeply rutted and the ruts can hold water, drawing birds like this killdeer...

Heading back to the campground, Cheryl captured some landscapes and sunsets...

This gigantic flag was suspended from the new bridge being constructed over the Yellowstone River. It seems appropriate for today. Happy Independence Day!

Thanks for visiting, be well, and come back soon.

GRAND TETON N.P... Third Update

 Visiting any national park can provide a chance to see some unusual camping rigs like the one shown below...

Grand Teton offers more than just the large animals that everyone gets excited about. When the bears, bison and moose are not visible we like to find a quiet spot to view birds or other smaller critters. We found this red-winged blackbird just below the Jackson Lake dam...

There must have been an insect hatch going on because the bird activity was fast and furious. A number of brewer's blackbirds were eating as many as thy could catch...

While the male brewer's blackbirds alternated between catching bugs and displaying for the females...

The Wyoming Ground Squirrels came out of hiding to catch some for themselves...

We also watched a beaver fill its mouth with grass to take to a lodge nearby...

A Canada goose sat serenely on her nest at the same location...

 Later we checked an area on the Wilderness Road in the Bridget-Teton National Forest. We saw western tanagers flying about...

A drive-up Signal Mountain produced a dusky grouse sighting...

Towards evening we found a spot overlooking Willow Flats, a well-known grizzly area during the elk calving season. Instead of a grizzly we saw a coyote...

Earlier, we did spot two grizzlies prowling about in the willows looking for young elk.

There will be more to come soon. In the meantime, thanks for visiting, be well, and come back soon.

Grand Teton National Park, June 5, 2025...Update

 Greetings from Wyoming, where the temperature ranges from the low 30's at night to the mid 70's at mid-afternoon...even in June. Pack accordingly.

One of the first critters we spotted was a coyote in a large hay field...

One of our favorite places to visit is the Murrie Ranch on the scenic Moose-Wilson Road...

The long lane leading to the ranch house offers many wildlife viewing opportunities. Among the often-seen wildlife are moose...

This one was chilling under an evergreen tree...

There were also some mule deer visible...

Another side-road adventure is the Uhl Hill Road...

We have seen a variety of wildlife in this area including badgers, pronghorns, bison, coyotes, wolves, raptors including golden eagles and ravens...

This one had found a morsel, and he wasn't letting it go...

We also found a killdeer probing for food...

Uhl Hill Road leads to what used to be a working ranch. The National Park Service uses several of the original buildings for storage. Some they have let fall into disrepair...

The first grizzly bear we encountered was south of Jenny Lake. Because of the speculation that a male grizzly had just killed two cubs belonging to Bear 1063, I quickly assumed that this was the culprit...

With no evidence to support my theory I have to admit that the bear known as grizzly bear 679, aka Bruno, most likely is to blame. As mentioned in my earlier post, male bears will kill cubs to force the female into heat again.

The southern part of GTNP has lots of landscape to take in. Cheryl took all of the landscape photos while we roamed around searching for wildlife...

 On what is called the inner-park road we had a few distant critter sightings...

This is a cinnamon phase black bear...

A pair of sandhill cranes...

A pack of five coyotes on the hunt...

I wasn't able to get all five in a single photo, but I did manage to isolate a couple...

The rough road to Spaulding Bay...

Provided an encounter with a red fox...

On Togwotee Pass we encountered grizzly bear 863, called Felicia by locals and tourists alike...

This year she is trying to raise her cubs by the side of the road to avoid the boars...

A drive to the top of signal mountain resulted in the sighting of a female dusky grouse...

Another visit to the Murrie Ranch resulted in another moose sighting of possibly the same young bull...

Thanks for visiting, be well, and come back soon.