An adult White Crowned Sparrow looks to have found an interesting meal.
Tag: yellowstone national park
Orobanche uniflora
I can’t say it better than it is stated in this NY Times article “There’s simply no way to talk about the beauty of Orobanche uniflora without raising a lot of eyebrows.”
Commonly called Naked Broomrape or sometimes Flowered Cancer Root this wonderful flower with unflattering common names was a new one to us when we came across it in meadow on a recent hike.
It is a short leafless plant unable to photosynthsize thus gaining it’s nutrients by parasitism. Often using sedum, saxifrages and asters as a host plant. Typically growing only up to 3 inches tall we found this cluster buried deep in the grass.
It is a beautiful little flower and very unique to say the least.
Across open spaces
A day spent winding your way through open spaces is indeed a day well spent. From morning encounters with resting Elk to views of the mountains beyond.
The mid-day sun shines bright but a gentle breeze blows to cool things down.
As mid-day passes to afternoon the clouds begin to build and signal it’s time to go down.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend and perhaps some time in your favorite space.
From sage to treetop
On a recent hike across sage-lands dotted with forest the Sparrows were distant yet constant companions.
An unmistakable song
Along the trail the House Wrens song was unmistakable. Moving quickly in the underbrush but appearing just long enough for a quick photo. A house wren is always a great companion while on the trail and that song is unmistakable.
Linum Lewisii: Blue Flax
Blue Flax floats, or so it seems, and shines like the summer sun warming the fields in the morning light.
Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel
Cute like a Chipmunk only bigger. The Golden Mantled Group Squirrel is a resident of mountain and coniferous forest regions across the western United State and Canada.
We spent some time observing this guy/gal while on a recent hike. They were busy scurrying about and not too concerned about us hanging out watching them. They moved about nimbly in the rocky terrain where we found them that afternoon.
Before we left they collected a nice big piece of moss presumably for their den.
So, if you see a giant chipmunk running around it is probably a Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel.
