Mom doing her best to make sure a yearling Elk has washed behind their ears.
Happy Friday and wishing you all the best.
Tag: ecosystem
Slumber
Both the Bull and Cow Elk dotting the landscape enjoyed a little late morning nap on this early spring day.
If it weren’t for the extra cup of coffee we had this morning we would join right in.
Pinyon Jay
While getting ready to go for a hike a while ago we were pleased to have the company of numerous Pinyon Jays buzzing about in the parking area collecting seeds.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Pinyon Jays are highly social birds of the lower mountain slopes of the western United States, the Pinyon Jay is specialized for feeding on pine seeds. Each jay stores thousands of seeds each year, and has such a good memory that it can remember where most of them were hidden.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pinyon_Jay/id
Now if only I could bottle that kind of memory and take a sip every morning I might never forget where I placed my keys.
First Blues
With snow still covering the fields the Mountain Bluebirds have made their return. Yes, at this point there are only a few scattered along the county roads staking out the prime real estate and empty nesting boxes, but what a welcome sight they are.
The male a brilliant blue perched upon an old fence post was a welcome sight on this mid-March afternoon.
When winter met spring
Late one night winters breath blew and gave us the snow.
In the morning spring awoke bringing us sun and warmth.
When winter meets spring is a fine time of year.
Willet
A Willet soaking up the warmth of the sun.
Every day it feels more like spring, yes, winter remains yet it’s grips has lost much strength.
Just a trim
A young mule deer peeks out from behind a spruce tree to give the nearby shrub a little trim on a snowy March morning.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Mountain Monday
This winter the most numerous bird species hanging around our area is the Mountain Chickadee. They appear to make up the core of mixed flocks roaming the neighborhood and slightly outnumber the Red-Breasted Nuthatches and Black-Capped Chickadees. These guys have a wonderful feisty-spunky-gritty- character that makes them a real treat to have around on a winters day. As spring arrives they will move back up into the hills but for now we are thoroughly enjoying having the around.
Reflecting Pool-2
The sun breaking through the clouds to reflect on itself on a cold winters day in the upper geyser basin of Yellowstone National Park.
Black Vulture
A beautiful Black Vulture presents their profile through a forest clearing. While not a local resident to the western United Staes Black Vultures have been slowly expanding their range and a now a common sight in the East and Southeaster US. Black Vultures are monogamous, staying with their mates for many years, and caring parents who feed thier young for up to 8 months. In addition, vultures contribute a wonderful clean-up service to the ecosystems they inhabit. It was nice to get a close-up view of a bird we usually see soaring on the thermal high above our heads.
nature has no boss 
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