All is Well

Figured I needed to put up a post of some sort this evening. A brief recap of the past two days is in order.

Yesterday morning I left Dickinson about 8am. Went back to Ilo Lake NWR. Didn't get any really good photos there. On to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt NP. Got some nice scenery photos there and one so so photo of a White-tailed deer. The only thing of note about that photo was it was the only time I saw deer in the park. I got to Medicine Lake NWR after 5pm. Mostly did a drive through to figure out where might be good spots to try to photograph birds. Wasn't really concentrating on photography, but got good photos of an Upland sandpiper and Willet. Got to the motel in Plentywood after 8pm. By the time I got my stuff in the room, Miz Winnie walked, and the computter hooked up and connected, it was after 9pm. It had been a long day, I was tired, and verging on cranky. A good nights sleep does wonders though!

I was back out at the refuge relatively early this morning. Based on what I had seen the evening before, I really wanted to get some photos of Eared grebes. They are not a bird one would normally see in Nebraska (other that during migration). Did okay in getting some photos of a couple Eared grebes, but I was frustrated in my attempts to get them with a young'un. Came back to the motel in the early afternoon and got caught up going through photos from the past couple days. Went back out this evening and hit the potluck with an Eared grebe and a young'un. I took over 400photos (which includes other photos taken of other birds). Taking that many photos in a short period of time means I had my finger on the trigger button almost continuously for a short bursts. It also means that because the birds are moving about and you are constantly trying to move with them, there are lots of out of focus junk photos. On my first go through of those 400+ photos, I deleted 100. Don't know how many on the second round. I now have the grebes down to 35 photos. Still have to winnow out more. I need to get some space from those photos for tonight, and get a fresh look at them tomorrow.

An entirely separate issue. There was an unfortunate incident with Miz Winnie and three other dogs in Dickinson. Continuing on to Seattle is definitely in question at this point. I have pretty much made up my mind about what to do, but want to sleep on it one more night, or perhaps given the time, one more morning. More on that later.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Spent part of the day in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Have throughly enjoyed the park. Was thinking today, if I could only go to Badlands NP or Theodore Roosevelt NP, which one would I pick. The scenery is similar, ie. badlands. Badlands NP is flatter, and the road is straighter, Theodore Roosevelt is hillier, and the road is not nearly so straight.

My final decision was Theodore Roosevelt NP. There are plenty of visitors, but not the hordes that there were in the Badlands. Makes it easier to stop in unauthorized places and take a photo or two. Getting to either park before school is out would probably revise visitor numbers down some, but there were plenty of old geezers like me, so it might not make that much difference. I do think the scenery is slightly more dramatic, and there are far more animals to photograph. The last one is probably what swung the vote to TRNP.

Saw more Bison. This guy was really shaggy and he looked different from the others in this mini-herd. I suspect he is not an adult, though he certainly wasn't a calf. Right after I got this photo, he ambled across the road right behind my car and rubbed and rubbed on one of the posts holding up the guard rail. Guess he had an itch!


Friday I saw a mini-herd of feral horses up on a hill. Today they were down by the road, and that allowed for close up photos. These two mares seemed to be enjoying a few quiet moments without their colts nearby.


The rest of the critter pictures are here.

I went through Arby's drive through to pick up their Chicken Cordon Bleu (mmmm) for dinner on the way back to the motel. Noticed this sign, and couldn't resist the urge to photograph it.


Moving north and west tomorrow to Plentywood, MT

Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge

Saturday did not go as planned.

First of all I didn't get up as early as I would have liked, because I was up too late the night before. Checked the weather report and took one look at the radar screen and said, oops, guess I will sit tight for awhile. After that little squall passed through, I headed out. The skies looked pretty good. Dark to the east and south, but good to the north and west, which was where I was headed. Lake Ilo NWR was on my way to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt NP, and since I can never pass a wildlife refuge by, it was my first destination.

This Willet chattered at me as I photographed him


This Upland sandpiper was posing nicely and I was firing away with the camera when I heard a big pickup approaching. I was mumbling under my breath to myself about it as he passed by. After he was gone and I was looking at the photos I had just taken, I mumbled, thanks pickup guy, you just got me a nice one.


I would have liked to stay at the refuge, but I looked at the time and said, gotta move on. The sky to the north and west still looked pretty good, so off to the west I went. As I went west the skies started to darken and the wind began to pick up. By the time I got to where I had to turn north to go to the North Unit of the Park, I had decided that heading south was my best option.

This photo was taken shortly after I turned south. The skies looked blacker than this photo portrays.


Got back to the motel and took Miz Winnie for a short stroll. Hustled her along as I could hear thunder in the distance. We hadn't been in the room long when the wind picked up, the thunder, lightning and rain started in earnest. Didn't last too long, and it cleared up after that. Probably would have been okay had I gone to the North Unit of the Park, but better safe than sorry.

The Scenery of Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Some scenery photos from Theodore Roosevelt National Park

One very big, very white cloud

Fauna of Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Well, I made it through all the critter photos, deleted the junk, picked and chose the ones I think are the best, and got them uploaded to the photo site. So, here are the one's I like the best.

Photographed this Lark sparrow very early in my time at the park. So early, that I kind of forgot about getting his photo. I think Lark sparrows are the prettiest of the sparrows.


Aw, Mom, I love ya (Prairie dogs)


Feral horses reside in the park. After taking a bunch of photos of this herd, I realized the grungy white pickup also parked in the pullout was a guvment vehicle. So I talked to the Ranger for a couple of minutes. She verified that this was one of several mini-herds of feral horses in the park


Check out the nasty scar on the shoulder of this feral horse


Then there were the Bison. Look at the tongue this guy has!


The rest of the critter photos are here

Not even going to tackle the scenery photos this now morning.

Bucyrus, North Dakota

My Aunt and Uncle's house in Bucyrus, North Dakota. I should have taken a picture of the driveway. I still have a scar on my knee compliments of falling in that gravel driveway.


My Grandparents home. Mother spent most of her growing up years in this house. It seems to be in better shape that my Aunt and Uncle's home.


I spent most of the day in the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Took lots of photos. Saw Prairie dogs, Bison, feral Horses, and Pronghorn antelope. No photos of the latter, but quite a few of the previous. And lots of scenery photos. Just got back to the motel a little less than an hour ago, so will have a busy remainder of the evening going through photos. Tomorrow it's the north unit of the park.

More Badlands

A couple of photos from Wednesday evening in the Badlands.

From the looks of the moon this evening, I missed a full moon by one evening.


Sunset as I was leaving the park


The rest of the photos from the Badlands are here

I've concluded that one needs two mornings in the Badlands, and two evenings. One morning to go east and see and photograph from that angle, and a morning to go west and see and photograph. Repeat process for the evenings. Also probably need to schedule in a couple of extra days to accomodate weather.

I headed north today. Only covered about 250 miles, but I dawdled along the way and it took all day to get to Dickinson ND. After Miz Winnie and I got settled in, I laid down and took a 3 hour nap. Guarantees messing up the nights sleep!

I stopped for a good bit of time in Bucyrus, ND. It's the town where my mother was born and raised. Easily located the home of my aunt and uncle and my grandparents. Both are in disrepair. Was suprised how small they were. I was last there in my early teens and they seemed larger in my memories. Drove around the town a bit and finally found a man outside working on his RV. He allowed that he had lived there since 1968. Was able to confirm that the houses that I believed to be family homes were in fact, family homes. He told me where the cemetary was. Spent a good bit of time there. Never did find the graves of my grandparents, or my aunt and uncle. Lots of small town cemetaries are well kept, but this one isn't. It appeared that the grass isn't mowed with any frequency, and when it is, no one takes the time to clean off the markers. I guess the moral of the story is that one should have an upright marker. For some reason or another, it was an emotionally draining experience. Something I hadn't really expected. Haven't yet looked at the pictures I took today...

Theodore Roosevelt National park is the next photgraphy spot.

Badlands National Park and Buffalo Gap National Grassland

Whew! I'm going to get caught up. This morning I went back to the Badlands. I haven't been very happy with the photos I've been getting there, so I changed cameras. Think that was a good idea.

We came to the Badlands either the first or second summer I lived in Nebraska. I don't remember being as impressed with the Badlands on that trip. I'm not particularly good with adjectives, but I have just been awestruck by this landscape. Perhaps that's been part of my frustration with the photos I've been getting. They just haven't seemed to represent the grandeur of what I was seeing. Think I did a little better today. Here's a couple of photos from today.





I then headed south out of the park into the Buffalo National Grassland. I did find one Pronghorn antelope. Kind of scruffy looking!


A Lark bunting chose to pose.


Going to the park in a few minutes and see if I can get some more sunset photos.

Buffalo Gap National Grassland

Yesterday, I headed south of Badlands NP, partly to get away from the hordes in the park, and partly because I thought seeing critters and birds might be easier elsewhere. I was particulary hopeful of finding of some Pronghorn antelope. I saw some, but they were well out of camera range.

I did see this mare and foal


I stopped by the little town of Scenic and enjoyed the humor of the lady and rolling pin chasing the man


This immature Horned lark seemed pretty proud of catching a grasshopper.

Badlands National Park Sunset

I wanted to put up Monday evenings photos from the Badlands last night. Don't know if pbase (photo site) was having a problem, or if it was the connection here, but the photos I wanted to put up were'nt loading. Just a big black square. The thumbnails were fine, but no photo. Same thing this morning. So I've reloaded them, and at least some of them are showing up.

Anyway, here's a couple of sunset photos from Badlands National Park.

More Bighorn Sheep

Started the day off by going out to Lacreek NWR. No birds were in the mood to pose, and after seeing three Snapping turtles in two visits, I was skunked on that front too. Did't even lift the camera while there.

Headed north towards Badlands National Park and my destination for the night, Wall, SD. I took some scenery photos along the way, and maybe I'll finish going through them and get some posted tonight. Or maybe not. Drove through the Badlands, took a few pictures, but really wanted to get into town, get settled in the motel and go back out and take photos in the softer light of evening. I took some photos in the harsh sunlight and the early evening ones are really far better. Anyway. I got into Wall about 3:30. The office of the motel was locked up tighter than a drum. This is a mom and pop operation. The office is only open after 4pm....or so I soon found out. So Miz Winnie and I went to the City Park and she got some much needed "excercise".

I found another Bighorn sheep...It appears she (I think it's a she. Need to do some research on the difference of male and females.) has some sort of tracking transmitter around her neck.

Bighorn Sheep

Drove through Badlands National Park today. I'll have more photos later, but wanted to post this photo of a Bighorn sheep

Lacreek NWR

Lacreek NWR always seems to be boom or bust as a place to take photos. Thus far it has been a bust. Found another Snapping turtle. It's egg laying season, so that's to be expected.

I have passed by this barn a number of times, but going south past it, I just never found an angle that I liked. Going north this morning, I think I found a pretty good angle.


Tomorrow, I head to the Badlands, and hopefully the motel in Wall has a more consistent wifi connection.

Ft. Niobrara NWR and Lacreek NWR

I'm in a different time zone. I know I operate in my own zone sometimes, but no smart comments are needed.

Not much of interest to report today. Decided to do a last quick drive through Ft. Niobrara NWR.

Found this just out of the nest Eastern phoebe. Isn't he/she cute?


Usually when I go from Valentine to Lacreek NWR I go west on the Nebraska side and then north. Today I went north from Valentine to South Dakota and then west. Vetal, South Dakota appears to be one of those dieing towns you see in this part of the country.


This old truck was just west of town. Can't you just image the pride the original owner had in this rig when it was new?


Got to Lacreek NWR this afternoon and the only sighting of interest was this Snapping turtle. They can be rather ornery, so I gave her a wide berth as I took photos!


Internet connection has been up and down all evening. One more night here, and hopefully the next place has a more reliable connection.

Valentine and Ft. Niobrara National Wildlife Refuges

This morning I headed out to Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. Had been there awhile when I saw this Variegated Fritillary. Decided I wanted to try to photograph him, so got out of the car and began the attempt.

After getting my guy...I noticed Miz Winnie was in the front seat, poking her nose out the partially open car window. Normally she snoozes on when I get out of the car. When she doesn't, I know she thinks it's time to take care of doggy business. In spite of having water in the car she decided to take a drink of the water in Rice Lake


She then decided to check out this dock. We hadn't gotten very far, when the waves from the lake slapped against the dock. She wasn't sure about that sound, and decided she wanted no part of the dock. However, I had heard a Marsh wren in the reeds and so, with a little urging, she decided not to be a scaredy dog, and explored the dock some more. I never did see the Marsh wren though he kept singing the entire time we stayed on the dock.


Moving on, I had fun playing with the shutter settings to get this effect with the windmill


The rest of the Valentine NWR photos are here

This evening I went back out to Ft. Niobrara NWR.

I was scanning the Prairie dog town looking for a Burrowing owl. Never did find a Burrowing owl but this Ring-necked pheasant and his lady friend were meandering through the Prairie dog town.


And my last picture of the day was of this White-tailed jackrabbit


I decided to try a smaller size photo this evening. We'll see how I like it, as I continue to tweak how I do this blog.

Tomorrow I head on to Martin, SD. Martin is a really dinky little town. There is one motel there. There is a main building that looks like it is rather upscale, especially for Martin. Dogs aren't allowed there. There is an annex (their term) around the corner. It appears to have been a separate motel that was perhaps bought up by the more upscale place. Anyway, I was told when I checked in there last November that there was no internet access in the annex. However, that was only partly true, because I was able to access it intermittently. I have no idea what the situation will be tomorrow. The bottom line is, that I may be off-line for a couple of nights.

Niobrara River and Ft. Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge

When you enter Ft. Niobrara NWR, you almost immediately cross the Niobrara River and see this small man made waterfall


After driving through the refuge you again cross the Niobrara River and you can see one of the few natural waterfalls, Berry Falls. Canoing is a very popular activity.


Birds and critters seen on the refuge today included this Upland Sandpiper


This Common nighthawk tolerated my sitting and watching him and the clicking of my camera for quite awhile. He finally voiced his disapproval by squawking loudly. I captured him with his mouth wide open


Seems like the Prairie dogs are almost always willing to pose


There are about 350 Bison on the refuge. They weigh about 2,000 pounds. This was one big boy!

First Day On The Road

I had intended to get to Valentine (the first stop on this trip) via Broken Bow and Highway 83. Because of the flooding, collapsed bridges, and roads being out, I took a somewhat roundabout way. Compliments of the Nebraska Highway Conditions site, I went further west and took Highway 97 north from North Platte. Nary a problem was encountered. Every river and lake along the way was very full, but no water on the road.

A few photos from todays trip

Finally heading into the Nebraska Sandhills


I mostly had the road to myself


The Dismal River Outfitters have quite a spread


The Loup River was full, but not overflowing


Most ranches have signs. Some ranchers seem to have a sense of humor


No post depicting the Sandhills would be complete without a picture of cattle


Or horses