Life at Home, After Yellowstone

After our trip to Yellowstone, we spent a little more time enjoying our own neighborhood. Sometimes the most incredible things we see are right here, at Moose Point Lodge! First morning home, we had a juvenile bald eagle in one of the pine trees in our backyard.

Down behind our house, on a walk . . .

Don even got to do a little fishing.

We drove around our neighborhood . . .

And, Don did a little more fishing. This time, he was his own photographer.

What a HOGGGGG!!!!

We had a ruffed grouse hanging around our place -

On another walk behind our house -

And, Don did a little MORE fishing . . .

. . . and catching!

After I left for home, he caught THE BIG ONE!!!

Elk on Fall Creek Road -

The draw of Grand Teton National Park was just too strong. On the third day following our trip into Yellowstone, we headed back to the Grand Teton National Park. We were actually looking for 399 and her new cub, but willing to shoot anything we could find. Including trumpeter swans at Oxbow Bend.

We saw a coyote running along the snow. Check out the two bald eagles in the middle of the river!

Heading further into the Park.

At Jenny Lake Lodge -

No bears, but lots of snow!

We took the open section of the Moose Wilson Road and came across two sandhill cranes.

That same night, one of the trail cameras caught a raccoon in our backyard! The wildlife is starting to return to Moose Point Lodge!

In the backyard the following day -

And in the front yard -

On May 4th, we took a drive down Spring Gulch Road and turned into Bar B C to see what we could find.

Anne here are a couple of your old friends! They winter here and summer here. They are ALWAYS here! In this shot, the male looks like he is doing swan yoga. The mallard seems very intrigued.

His audience has grown . . .

While the male ("cob") did his stretching, the female ("pen") was keeping her eggs warm on the nest. Can't wait to see if they actually have little cygnets.

Saw a mountain blue bird -

And a cute little mule deer couple -

The view from our hot tub on May 5th.

Good place for a selfie!

Later, the following evening -

I was up extra early on the 7th and spotted two beavers in the river behind our house. (Not a great video, but when you're photographing beavers, anything goes!) We'd neither one seen beavers this close to home!

The tail was a dead give-away!

No wonder! They've built a lodge just down river from our place!

Look who was back . . . again . . . later that moring.

We headed into Jackson to run some errands and spotted this osprey along the road -

Ready . . . Set . . .

Go!

Elk along Fall Creek Road -

That evening, we had some really fun visitors in our backyard -

A pair of coyotes!

AND a raccoon!

We also captured our first pine marten!

It was a beautiful day on Monday! We went for a walk behind the house -

Back at home, this bird was still at large.

We also had two bald eagles in different trees in the backyard.

May 11th, we were back in the GTNP, looking for 399. No one had seen her, yet. Either she wasn't coming out . . . or she would be coming out with a cub or two, three, four? Who knew? The suspense was killing us! Meanwhile, we spotted this handsome duck . . . I thought it was a cinnamon teal, but he doesn't fit the complete description. Anyone else have any ideas?

And a pair of herons -

Back at home -

From the backyard, I could see elk crossing the river.

Later that morning, we headed back into the GTNP, with one thing on our mind . . . 399!

Still no 399. In fact, no bears at all! It's been a beast of a winter, everything is behind schedule.

May 15th, sunrise . . .

I went for a walk in the park behind the house. It was another beautiful day.

I spotted a young moose. He wasn't happy to see me.

The Tetons from the Snake River levee.

A bald eagle flew overhead -

Spotted this little guy as I returned up the trail toward home.

He got up to take a closer look at me as I passed by, very cautiously!

Then I spotted this gal -

Early the next morning, a fox passed through the backyard.

I was out for a walk after lunch on Tuesday and spotted a moose resting as I crossed the first bridge. He didn't seem to mind, and I didn't linger to find out!

Along the trail -

Overall, it was a pretty quiet walk. I had only spotted one moose. But, I did have a little trouble getting back home. The young moose I spotted at the beginning of my walk was grazing at the end of the bridge. The bridge that I needed to cross to get home. I waited for a half an hour while he grazed and kept an eye on me.

Eventually he crossed the road . . .

. . . stopping as he blocked my way completely! Do you think he knew he was holding me up?

Eventually, he made his way to the river . . .

. . . and stepped into the water.

He was VERY cute, with his little button paddles just starting to re-grow.

When I thought he was far enough into the river and adequately distracted so that he wouldn't be coming back any time soon, I crossed the bridge quickly.

But that move did not go unnoticed!

Safely up the road, and just before the big hill we climb to get back home, I spotted a kingfisher. It was my lucky day . . . in more ways than one!

Later, heading into Jackson . . .

A very lucky day, indeed!

Take good care! And, we'll do the same, here in Wild Wilson!

Love, Barbara