YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

Only six more days left in the 2015 season of Yellowstone and being able to drive south of Mammoth.  Beginning next Monday I will be confined to the Northern Range for six months.  The bears will be sleeping during much of that time, there will be no cute new babies to photograph and it will be cold and snowy.  Don’t get me wrong, I love winter in Yellowstone.  It is just nice to have the option to go other places and see other things – to get away from wolf drama, which is the mainstay in the north.

I had given up on seeing the great gray owl, any of them, this season.  But, at the last minute I decided to take a drive south in hopes of seeing 755 or Valley Girl.  Well, I got the great gray instead, for about 5 hours!  It was incredible to spend that much time with such a beautiful bird!

But, first, don’t let me forget to tell you – the newly redone road between Mammoth and Norris is wonderful!  The road is smooth and wide with a lot of pullouts.  If Mini Mom comes out with three cubs next year everyone will be able to see them.  The last time that happened there were so many photographers and no place to park – it was nuts on that narrow, windy road.  But, no more.

And, the Canyon gas station closed yesterday, although you can still purchase gas.  The restrooms at the visitor center are still open, as is that little store just down the way from there where I think you can get hot dogs.  That is all that is open, although there are vending machines near the restrooms.  Also, at Old Faithful the stores and gas station closed awhile back but the visitor center is open.  Soon it will all be shut down.

Anyway, back to the great gray.  I spotted a photographer in a field and knew immediately, given that his lens was pointing up towards a tree, that he had a great gray, and was beside myself with joy.  I could hardly get myself together for fear the bird would fly before I got to see him.  Well, it all worked out for a most enjoyable 5 hours of waiting in anticipation for an attempt at the flight shot.  By the time that happened there wasn’t enough light to capture movement but it sure was nice to see the bird fly.

This is what a great gray looks like taking off – fast and blurry!

So, I didn’t get the flight shots but did get several hundred very nice images of this bird – he likes to stretch and make faces.

Here are just a few shots taken today.  Have you ever seen a more beautiful bird?

Late in the afternoon the owl went into hunting mode and I was able to get him on several different perches before it was time to let him be and go on my way.

I did see a grizzly at Cascade Meadows on my way home.  And, there had been one south of Canyon earlier in the day.  Also, Raspberry and Snow were still out on Sylvan Pass.

Since there are only a few more days left, will have to see what we find tomorrow.

Deby