7/1/18

The fifth of June found a herd of bison making their way through our campground and on down into the meadow by the river

June 11th we took a drive around the Lamar and Hayden Valleys. Dropping into the Tower Junction area after driving over Dunraven pass we stopped below Tower campground and took the short hike out to Tower Falls.

And then on down to the river itself, at the bottom of the falls

On our way through the Lamar River Canyon we took a short hike down to the river. The water level was still high due to the snow melt.

We saw a bunch of baby bison in the Lamar Valley.

On the way back through the Lamar Canyon, after driving through the valley, we saw a pair of black bears by the river.

Then as we were heading back through Tower Junction toward Dunraven Pass, we saw another young black bear munching on flowers.

Crossing Dunraven Pass on our way home we ran into a snow storm.

On June 17th we went out to the Lamar Valley again and saw what we think is one of the youngest bison in the park. It still had its umbilical cord.

Near Elk Creek, west of Tower Junction, we saw this cinnamon black bear eating grubs in a log on the hill side.

There hasn't been as many elk as we usually see in the Mammoth area but we did see this herd near Soda Butte, east of the Lamar Valley.

We drove around the lower loop to get home but it took a little longer than we expected because of people taking a look at a couple of bison near Fountain Flat Drive.

June 18th we drove around the upper loop after going to Lamar Valley. As we got to Tower Junction, Penny saw a redtail hawk swooping down into the meadow. She was able to get a photo of it catching a rodent and carrying it off.

At the east end of the Lamar River Canyon, just before we dropped into the Lamar Valley, this little Yellow Belly Marmot was sunning himself on top of a large boulder overlooking the river.

We came down through the road construction between Indian Creek and Roaring Mountain. In front of the Indian Creek campground was a herd of bison with a number of babies. Two of the little ones were playing with each other and one of them just wanted to cuddle with mom.

Another trip to the Lamar Valley on June 24th provided a lot of wildlife viewing. Between Phantom Lake and Floating Island Lake (halfway between Mammoth an Tower) we had a young black bear cross the road in front of us.

On a cliff face along the road to Slough Creek campground is a Golden Eagle nest with an eaglet in it.

After our drive around the upper loop we went out to West Yellowstone. Along the river we found a family of Canada Geese with four gosslings.

We had family come visit the park and we were able to show them around one of the days they were here. We took them on our favorite drive through the Lamar Valley. The first wildlife we saw was a black bear sow and first year cub above the Tower Junction. The cub was cute and scampered up a tree while its mom enjoyed some flowers.

We spotted a pair of sandhill cranes with a young one as we headed east toward the Lamar Valley.

Although we saw more bears as we were driving, the only one we were able to get a clear picture of was this cinnamon black bear above Tower Junction.

While I was out here at Seven Mile Bridge, next to the Madison River, making this blog post, I saw a pair of nesting Blue Herons with a chick and got a few photos of them. Those pictures will have to wait until my next post though, since I can't download the camera to my computer right now.