We were able to see the Junction Butte wolf pack this morning. The first chance to see this years puppies. This video shows one pup that is nearly full size but full of energy playing. Next entry in diary

The snow was deep this year in the Beartooths. It was late in melting and melted all at once in late June. Here in Colter campground the melting snow filled up a couple of low spots forming small ponds. This Goldeneye mother decided these were not bad ponds to raise her chicks even if they would not last all summer. Next entry in diary

Today I stalked the elusive Stoat. I got up early and trekked 10 miles up Henderson Mountain. It was treacherous and stormy. I had to climb up a sheer vertical cliff to get to the lair of this handsome beast. As I climbed through a field of wild flowers, I caught sight of my prey. Long, sleek and with a black tip on his tail. He darted and ran, I chased and did not give up. Then he... well, peeked out through the mag wheels on my Suburban this morning. This little guy is also known as the Short Tailed Weasel or, in his winter coat, the Ermine. A native of Europe, he migrated to the U.S....

Watching wildlife in Yellowstone is not easy at least for Bears and Wolves. Elk tend to hang out in the grassy dividers between roads at Mammoth Hot Springs and Bison cross the roads in front of you everyday. (Please Please don't get out of your car in those situations, Bison are incredibly tolerant but they have their limits and people have been gored) But the Wolves and most Grizzlies are far way from the view areas. When we first went to Yellowstone and got up early to watch wolves we stumbled upon the "wolfers". The original Wolf Project had over 100 volunteers who were used to note the location...

Yellowstone provides important habitat for many migrant species whose home turf is getting tough and sparse to live in. A number of the birds we've seen were a surprise to see because we don't necessarily associate them with being in the wilderness. Two such species are the Sandhill Crane and the Pelican. I think of the Pelican as a sea shore bird and, indeed, its characteristic pouch is designed to scoop up surface fish and water and drain the water out before swallowing. But some have found a home in Yellowstone in the summer. On the other hand, the Eagle symbolizes the wilderness. Next...

Light is everything for a photographer and we talk about the magic hours of the day. The early morning and early evening light are called the golden hours because the light is always low in the sky and tends to be a warmer color. But storms provide a great opportunity to get magic light just about any time of the day. Light rays peeking through stormy clouds provide dappled light on the landscape and can light up and highlight one subject or another. Next entry in diary

On Monday, July 30, our friends, Kelly & Enrico, who had graced us with their visit, headed back to North Dakota via the Beartooth Hwy, Red Lodge, and Billings. We had gone on a wonderful hike along the Cache Creek Trail the day before they left. They dropped me off at the Billings International Airport. My mom had recently fallen and I needed to return to Hayward help her and evaluate her condition. I hadn't had time to process all the images I wanted to post on the blog before I left. Below is one of the images from another morning at Slough Creek, showing the richness of the creek environment...

It has been said that every photograph that could be taken has already been taken. I don't think that is true but every serious photographer seeks to find a vision of their own. A style to separate themselves from the millions of images already taken. I found that abstract art photography was my vision. When it comes to wildlife photography I am a hack. This summer I realized that good wildlife photography requires very expensive equipment that lets you reach out a long way to get an image but it also requires great dedication to being out there most of the year. Good wildlife photographers...

We took a wonderful hike on the Cache Creek Trail from the footbridge trailhead today with our good friends Kelly and Enrico Sassi visiting from Fargo, ND. Super nice light as the clouds rolled through. The wild flowers were in great form and the Bison gracious enough to allow us passage through their turf. Next entry in diary

The wolf in Yellowstone is a case study in the interconnected relationship of animals and habitat. Before the Wolf was reintroduced in the 90's the elk exceed the holding capacity of the land. They were overgrazing which caused the landscape to degrade and erode killing trees. When the wolf was introduced the Elk population reduced to a stable level and the landscape returned to balance. How Wolves change Rivers We saw this herd of about 200 members in the Hayden Valley. Next entry in diary