Yellowstone National Park & Grand Teton National Park

 

Our Son Troy and his wife Carmen came to visit us from Madison

Wisconsin for a week.  We spent time exploring Yellowstone National Park 

looking for wildlife and new birds.

Early on our first morning we observed this large Black Bear feeding.

He looks like he has really been chowing down.

Flocks of Sandhill Cranes were roosting in standing water at Lamar Valley.  Temps were in the 30's.

Gray Wolves were in the close hills in the background.

We headed east to Beartooth Pass, enjoying the beautiful reflection on Beartooth Lake.

Pleasant surprise of the day was three large Grizzly Bears feeding near the road.

Watch them forage by turning over rocks.

A Sow and here two grown cubs.

Silver Tip pelage was evident on two of the bears.

We all stayed in the vehicle and out of harms way.

Beartooth Pass is at 10,947 feet with lots of snow and a very cold wind.

On sun exposed areas  Golden mantled Ground Squirrels and....

Least Chipmunks were begging for visitor handouts.

Rock Wren

Cinnamon Black Bear, one of the many bears spotted.

Large Bull Bison welcomed visitors to the Hydrothermal features in the Old Faithful Geyser Basin.

Old Faithful on stand-by, along with the hundreds of people waiting.

Getting ready, water starting to bubble..

Thar She Blows,  

Minutes later, the Beehive Geyser erupts even higher and noisier.

Carmen & Troy enjoying the experience.

Blue Hot Spring

Another colorful Hot Spring

Old Faithful Inn, that was built in 1903,  

Last day in, we decided to go south to the Grand Tetons in hopes of locating Moose for their wildlife target list.

Trumpeter Swans

Cinnamon Teal

Trio of River Otters on the Snake River

Otters checking us out, people watching.

Common Merganser on take off

Do we have life off?

Destination to join the loafing drakes in the shade, while the hens are off nesting.

A stop at a likely moose habitat was successful!

Carmen spotted this large cow feeding on willow.

She wasn't alone - twin calves came out of the brush with her

Hey Mom!  Who is that looking at us!

Fun watching them feeding and drinking

A bird all four of us were hoping to see, Canada Jay!

Of course it was at the picnic area, Also known as Camp Robbers, &Whiskey Jacks always looking for a handout.

Checking out the picnic table.

Reflections of the Grand Tetons help us to reflect on the wonderful week we had together.

We enjoyed God's creation and variety of wildlife.

Troy & Carmen ended up with 139 birds for the trip and 26 life birds.

❤️ Love & Prayers 🙏🏽

Ty & Ida Baumann

 

Day Trips from Livingston

 

End of May and into June is a time of new life around Livingston,

Crabapple trees were blooming at Sacajawea Park and throughout the city.

Birds were migrating through such as this Western Kingbird

Swainson's Thrush

New life is everywhere, Red Fox kits play by den 3 blocks from our home.

While the vixen is away the kits will play.

Or fight...

Eastern Kingbirds were at the Audubon Wetland Preserve in Bozeman

Marsh Wrens were staking out territory.

And singing loudly throughout the Cherry Creek Fishing Access in Bozeman

Belted Kingfisher

Western Shootingstar

Cinnamon Teal

What a beauty in the sunlight!

A trip on Bench Road south of Three Forks produced a Horned Lark

Named for the horn-like feathers.

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Ring-necked Pheasant cackling from a hay "skyscaper".

Sage Thrashers usually only heard but this one came out to meet other Thrashers

Dark Morph Swainson's Hawk

Gray Partridge tries to stay hidden.

The reason we came to Bench Road - a Burrowing Owl!

Ruddy Duck on pond at the north end of Bench Road.

Missouri River Headwaters State Park at Three Forks where three rivers come together.

Madison River, Gallatin Riven and Jefferson River form the Missouri River.

High cliffs with many dens provide homes for...

Yellow-bellied Marmots

 

Marmots venture down to dine on the fresh grass.

Female Bullock's Oriole

Another view of the converging rivers

Lark Sparrow

American Goldfinch pair

Up the rugged road to Livingston Peak gave me a cell phone shot of a Black Bear while Ty was walking the trail.

Snow is still covering the higher mountains.

Migrating Western Tanagers stopped at our feeding station for a few days.

They loved the oranges and suet.

Female Western Tanager

Up to seven birds at a time so there were a few squabbles.

Black-headed Grosbeak checked out the menu

Willow Creek Road Pronghorn Antelope buck

Pronghorn mama and newborn baby

Swingley Road had many Lazuli Buntings singing on territory.

Pine Siskins eating dandilion seeds along the road.

Willow Flycatcher along the creek

Mule Deer doe and newborn fawn

Hours old and ready to go!

Western Meadowlarks were everywhere we traveled.

Another beautiful day with wildflowers covering the hills.

❤️ Love & Prayers 🙏🏽

Ty & Ida Baumann