USA Holkiday Wildlife pics - Part 5 - Yellowstone completed and the trip out to Jackson Hole - All creatures.... - Wildlife

The following pictures are the remainder of what we saw in Yellowstone. This Osprey arrived and I was certain he was carrying a fish. we watched him for about 30 minutes but he showed no sign of it He called out several times and at least one other Osprey passed by but paid him no attention.

There was an empty nest about 30 yards from him but we never saw another Ospret go near it.

At last he gave in and ate the fish he had carried with him.

Late one evening we saw this bird on the ground, by the time we stopped it had flown into this tree. I believe it is a Swainson's Hawk.

We spent quite some time at the Le Hardy Rapids on the Yellowstone River.

Common Merganser males.

American White Pelican

American Dipper at our side of the river.

She/he was collecting food for this chick at the other side of the river and I was trying hard to get a picture of her feeding.

Next thing, out popped two Harlequin Ducks and you can se the panic in the chick as it relocates - exit stage left.

the chick finally settled on this rock in good view ready for feeding but mum must also have been wary of the ducks as she called the chick away and we lost them both.

Later, driving past an open field my wife spotted this - not easy to miss I'll grant you but she did well. When we back to the spot to take this picture the bird took off and actually flew towards us. It is a Yellow Headed Blackbird (if you hadn't already guessed).

On a journey out to West Yellowstone, just outside the West entrance to the park, we spotted this Bald Eagle sitting by the river - it was attempting to fish in " throw yourself in and hope manner". it eventually became embarassed by the large crowd that gathered to watch and took off without having caught anything.

I think this is a Song Sparrow but stand to be corrected. Whatever he was he was certainly singing his heart out, probably to celebrate the fact that the temperatures ere by now in the 70s.

These were the only pictures we mmanaged to get of Black Bear on the entire trip - 2 cubs and a mother, taken from a moving car as the wardens had arrived and were moving traffic on by the time we arrived.

Mr and Mrs Brown Headed Cowbird

Tree Swallows that had previously been mating. I had hoped the little flight would lead to another session but obviously they were too shy. It was a nice little sequence as they were sitting facing into aquite a strong breeze and he manoeuvred kite like in the wind.

A late evening Great Grey Heron.

Another Osprey flying by looking at the river.

A last visit to Old Faithful before leaving the Park - the pictures just never look the same without the blue sky behind the eruptions.

A last Picture of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, showing a wild Buffalo herd parked outside. It was amzing to see how many people assumed that they must be tame, in spite of the notices and especially given that they had young calves with them.

After Yellowstone we drove on down through Grand Teton National Park and spent a couple of nights in Jackson Hole.On the way down we had a picnic tea and the only bird we saw was this Gray Jay that flew in to scavenge at another table.

Next thing he hit was a traffic jam, caused by a family of 4 Grizzly bears. we later learned the family comprised of a female grizzly and her 2 cubs, plus the female grizzly's yonger sister. we have mor pictures of the family later.