Over a year ago, our friends Mark and Heidi Matthews invited Carrie and I to come stay with them in Idaho, while visiting Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons National Park. Recently, after being treated to some extremely helpful information and pizza by Matt Fraker, who spends a good amount of time in Wyoming, and particularly in Jackson Hole, we took Mark and Heidi up on their offer and began a new adventure in the West--what I will call the American Safari because of the opportunity to see so much Wildlife in Jackson Hole, the Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone National Park.
The first day, we made it as far as Ogallala, Nebraska. Our best bird on the way to Ogallala was a Common Nighthawk that flew across the highway. In spite of the monotony of this drive, I have learned that every land has its own beauty. Iowa had its rolling corn-fields, and Nebraska had cow pastures. Both had terrain that was very different than that of Illinois.
Day two of our journey was much more exciting. We saw several Swainson's Hawks along I-80 in Wyoming, and when we stopped to get gas in Rawlins, there were two Pronghorn Antelope fawns feeding by the road.
In Wyoming, the landscapes were like the wildlife--diverse and resplendent!
Carrie and I had seen what we thought were Golden Eagles back on I-80 just past the Lincoln Monument Rest Stop, but we were unable to stop to get a good look and a clear identification. So we were excited when we saw a large raptor fly to the ground on Highway 287 just before the T intersection. We pulled over just past where the bird landed, and looked back to find it sitting on a fence. It took off before we could focus the spotting scope on it, but it soared above us, and we both got great looks at our first Golden Eagle!
We stopped for gas at the intersection, where we saw our first of many Brewer's Blackbirds in Wyoming.
Then we stopped at Dry Lake along 287, where we saw about 200 Eared Grebes. Here is one that was close to the shore in breeding plumage.
Here is another Brewer's Blackbird that we saw in Lander just North of Dry Lake--an adult male.
North of Lander, we stopped at Ray Lake, where we saw Ring-billed and Herring Gulls and Caspian and Forster's Terns. Then we continued to the marsh just North of Ray Lake, where Carrie saw a Yellow-headed Blackbird that I was unable to relocate. We also saw a variety of waterfowl there and at least 18 Wilson's Phalaropes.
As we were driving away, several Black-billed Magpies flew across the road and congregated on a fence.
We stopped again at a Wind River Indian Reservation photo pull off, and saw the first Mountain Bluebirds of our trip. Mountain Bluebird was a lifer for Carrie, and I had only seen one through a spotting scope in Illinois.
A little later, we saw our last birds of the day in the Shoshone National Forest where I took the photo at the top of this post. A Clark's Nutcracker, another lifer for both of us, flew across the road in front of us and landed in the trees next to several other birds including a Red-shafted Northern Flicker and this heavily marked Red-tailed Hawk.
Carrie and I arrived in Jackson, Wyoming and checked into the Painted Buffalo Inn. Then we went looking all over town for a can of bear spray as we would be getting an early start the next day and would need to have bear spray in hand. To my frustration, every store that sold bear spray was closed. So we went to the Mexican restaurant across the street from our hotel and enjoyed a delicious meal of fajitas! When we got back to the hotel, I went to the lobby to ask if they sold bear spray just in case they might have some. The clerk told me they did not sell bear spray, but then pulled out a can of bear spray. She told me that they frequently had guests who dropped off their bear spray before they left for others to use since they would not be returning to the area and would never need it again. Then she gave me the bear spray and the holster that came with it and told me I could have it. What a wonderful blessing! I thanked the clerk and the Lord! So if you are ever in Jackson and need bear spray, check with your hotel clerk first. You just might save yourself 30-50 dollars and a lot of time!
These events took place on August 30-31, 2014, but this post was written on September 13, 2014.
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