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.