YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

We had some clouds and a beautiful sunrise this morning, setting the day up right for photography but no animals!  Yesterday the sightings were great and not a cloud in the sky, making photography near impossible.  It works that way some times.

Nearly halfway through the day and no sightings beyond the normal bison or the distant grizzly bears – no wolves anywhere to be found.  Josh found a grizzly wandering east in Lamar Valley and then someone saw a grizzly on the Junctions last carcass in Slough Creek.  I did see both of those but no photos.  And, I heard that there were two moose at Elk Creek but did not see them.

Just about heading home and Picnic Mom and her two cinnamon cuties popped out on the hillside above the Yellowstone River bridge.  We waited for her to come up the hill near the picnic area for quite some time, which she eventually did but made a quick exit.

So, really time to go home.  Except that I stopped at Wrecker and hiked out to the Confluence of the Lamar and the Yellowstone.  That is always a special hike for me and so quite enjoyable.  And, I hiked in tennis shoes – no snow or mud to speak of.  There was a big ram out there but I left him alone.  The grasses are really greening and most of the bull elk have lost their antlers.

After finishing my hike I noticed a long line of cars up by the picnic area and figured it would be so busy that there would be no point in going up there.  But, on second thought, checked it out and not so bad.  I found myself a nice quiet spot with a better angle, although I soon had some good company.  The three bears grazed, slept, nursed and ran up a tree.  The cubs are adorable.  Guess if you only get one show in town, a sow and two yearling cubs is a good one to have.

I did another quick run out to Lamar and Rick had at least some of the Lamars two miles away in the heat waves.  Dark Black got up and so we got to see that he was with the others.  Rick could see Twin but I could not honestly say I saw him.  He had seen Little T but no sightings on 926, though there were signals.  Rick is still hoping Mottled will come home.

Enjoy these images of the Picnic family.

Deby