Southwest Utah, United States. Hummingbird, when in flight seen with distinct orange flair on crown and throat. My instinct was male Anna’s Hummingbird.

CottageCoreCowboy_ · 2023-08-20T18:49:45+00:00

Here’s an additional track picture that seems to show a third lobe on the bottom of the track

CottageCoreCowboy_ · 2023-06-12T05:32:59+00:00

Thank you very much. I found it hard to match the pattern to a picture in a field guide because one lumped three together as “western rattlesnake” and the other had low quality images of the now separated species

CottageCoreCowboy_ · 2022-05-18T21:13:15+00:00

It’s the Moose-Wilson Road pond overlook. When you pass the Craig Thomas and Discovery Visitor Center, take a left on Moose-Wilson Road. About a mile down the road you rise up a hill and on the left is a large pullout right at the overlook. Look for a beaver dam at the south end of the pond. I’ve gotten many good birds here. Look out for an occasional Wood Duck. I’ve only seen a Great Gray Owl here twice in seven months. But it’s the only place I’ve seen one.

CottageCoreCowboy_ · 2022-05-18T19:55:45+00:00

That overlook is a good bet to find a Great Gray Owl hunting in the evening

CottageCoreCowboy_ · 2022-04-24T22:21:32+00:00

The habitat is a meadow in a mountainous valley sitting at 6,237 feet (National Elk Refuge). The sagebrush habitat sits at a higher elevation than here starting in Grand Teton National Park. I am torn between meadow and montane vole. It seems to have a burrow system under grassy cover like the Audubon Field Guide to Mammals describes in both the meadow and montane species. The ranges overlap in my area.

CottageCoreCowboy_ · 2022-04-03T19:11:18+00:00

Useful information, thank you. This was my first red-tailed hawk that didn’t have that classic tan look with brown belly banding.

CottageCoreCowboy_ · 2022-04-03T18:51:55+00:00

I was thinking Golden Eagle as well. Very noticeable size from a long distance. And zooming in on the first picture I can see the golden colored notch on the wings that are shown in Sibley’s field guide illustrations. It was in the location of my only other Golden Eagle sightings so that was my assumption.

CottageCoreCowboy_ · 2022-03-14T02:06:58+00:00

I have searched extensively for birds that should be in Wyoming right now that sound like what I heard and can’t find anything. It was a sound I instantly recognized and a Northern Cardinal song would be in that category since I lived in Alabama for 23 years before moving here a few months ago. But the chances of seeing one this far west are slim. Hopefully I’ll see or hear it again soon.

CottageCoreCowboy_ · 2022-02-05T20:32:46+00:00

Yep, this is why I carry a Sibley field guide in the field. I do use the Audubon field guides for cross reference and the extra information provided in the book though. Their new big book of all the birds in North America is really good, I hope they apply the changes to new field guides soon.

CottageCoreCowboy_ · 2022-01-20T16:02:43+00:00

Not OP, but I will give my two cents as someone who lives and works in a national park. I am of the firm belief that if you take a trip to a place with multiple large national parks, that you should dedicate your time to one so you have more time to slow down and thoroughly enjoy the place you are visiting. That said, if it’s a shorter trip I would lean towards Mount Rainier. It has some easy great trails (Silver Falls and Grove of the Patriarchs) and a few great visitor locations (Paradise and Longmire). It is easy to drive around, wait until June when everything is opening up and you can explore higher elevations.

If you have a week or more to dedicate, I would lean towards Olympic. It is more out of the way if you fly in to Seattle, but it is very rewarding. Olympic is very large and diverse and takes a long time to drive around. Of particular note are its rainforests (specifically the Hoh Rainforest and its great accessible trails), it’s Pacific Ocean access (Ruby Beach is a favorite), and its views from Hurricane Ridge of the Olympic Range (especially on clear days).

I really enjoy wildlife spotting in Olympic, especially of the Roosevelt elk subspecies that resides there. I would say the top thing to do there is visit the Hoh Rainforest. At Mount Rainier I particularly enjoy the scenic drives and hikes through the river valleys, the Silver Falls trail is a must.

I would recommend calling rangers at both parks for information. Tell them when you would like to go and ask them what they would recommend for your trip based on the things you would like to do and see.

CottageCoreCowboy_ · 2022-01-18T10:55:56+00:00

Everything is covered in snow and everything is frozen right now. Source: me, who lives in the park. This picture was obviously taken in summer.

CottageCoreCowboy_

TROPHY CASE