Archive for the ‘Dubois’ Category

Still here

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Still in the Camas National Wildlife Refuge area. Seeing all the rv traffic on the nearby I-15 over the holiday weekend, was relieved not to be in it. Saw quite a few people towing trailers and a cart with atv’s. It must be legal to do this in Idaho.

Above, a western tanager in a flowering tree.

Above, another northern harrier came after me after I stopped my truck on the road not far from where it was nesting (top picture). The truck gave me protection this time, but I didn’t stay long.

An adult and juvenile harrier flying and playing in the wind (bottom picture).

Swan (trumpeter?)

While I haven’t seen a lot of sandhill cranes, did pass one pair that had two young ones. So some are nesting here.

Young barn swallow

This looks like a Swainson’s hawk. It was on farmland near the refuge eating a mouse. Have seen a lot of these hawks in the area.

The weather has been ever changing, with winds blowing a continuous stream of clouds through. For the most part it has been partly cloudy with clouds shrouding the mountains. Snow is down to 7,000 feet. The valley is a little over 4,000 feet. Had one day with mostly rain. Made use of it by installing new hard drives in my computer, along with the mac’s Snow Leopard operating system.

Posted in Dubois, Hamer, hawk, Roberts, swallow, tanager, wildlife refuge | Comments Off

More birds at Camas Refuge

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Walking on a path near the visitor center at Camas National Wildlife Refuge saw two very large nests on the ground. As I looked closer, saw there was a young great horned owl in one of them. It didn’t seem to pay any attention to me, but on walking back by, saw that it had flown to a nearby tree. Online it says they fledge from the nest while still downy around the head and without noticeable ear tufts. Surprised they nest on the ground. There have to be coyotes in the area.

Lewis’s woodpecker. Don’t believe I’ve seen one before.

Ruddy duck

Juvenile northern harrier. Saw it harassing a lone Canada goose on the dirt road.

Came across two barn swallows nesting in an unused mailbox. It is in a hunting area on the refuge, so it’s probably used during hunting season.

Birds seen but not pictured: western tanager, a flock of cedar waxwings, juvenile meadowlarks, yellow warbler, marsh wrens.

Posted in Dubois, great horned owl, grebe, Hamer, Northern harrier, Roberts, swallow, wildlife refuge, woodpecker | Comments Off

Camas National Wildlife Refuge

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

I’m visiting Camas National Wildlife Refuge along the I-15 in Idaho, southwest of Yellowstone Park. Eared grebes at the refuge are pictured above. Last year when I was here, there were baby eared grebes riding on the backs of a parent and baby coots. I’m earlier this year though, and winter weather is continuing longer than usual. The corridor along the I-15 between the small villages of Roberts, Hamer, and Dubois, remind me of the Bishop area along #395. It is a desert area with snow capped mountains to the east, west, and north. I plan to stay here till after Memorial Day. Hopefully by then the winter weather will be gone, along with most of the snow from the mountain passes.

Besides Camas National Wildlife Refuge, there are two wildlife management areas here that I hope to visit: Mud Lake and Market Lake.

Yellow-headed blackbird

A hawk holding on to a branch in 30-35 mph winds.

At my campsite, there are two killdeers that use the broken wing ploy every time I step outside, most likely to draw me away from where they have a nest. Would love to see some baby killdeers. They start walking around as soon as they hatch.

Driving home from the refuge on a rural road late one windy day, two sandhill cranes flew in front on my truck, making me slam on my brakes. I was the only one on the road and was driving slow, so I didn’t hit them. Have seen 3 or 4 pairs of cranes and one pair of swans.

Below, clouds passing through the area. They did not bring any rain, just snow to the mountains and cold temperatures at night.

Posted in Airstream, black bird, Dubois, grebe, Hamer, Roberts, sandhill crane, wildlife refuge | Comments Off