Moose and the Gros Ventre River

Bull Moose crossing the Gros Ventre River in Wyoming.

 

 

This is the first time in 2 weeks that I've had access to the internet as I've been in Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks for that time and have been gratefully incommunicado!

We initially stayed at the Gros Ventre campground in Grand Teton just north of Jackson Hole in Wyoming and as we'd stayed here before we knew it to be a promising place to get some good views and photos of Moose.

We were not disappointed and over 2 days I watched a bull, cow and calf along the banks of the Gros Ventre River at the back of the campsite.

I watched as the cow made her way across the river, followed by the bull, leaving the calf on the opposite shore and calling for it's mother. Eventually she looked through the willow scrub across the water and spotted Mum feeding and decided to risk the river crossing alone.

Here are just a few of the photos I took in fantastic early morning light and very close to the animals as they decided to cross very near to our vantage point.

It was a sight that will stay with me for a long time to come!

Female Moose pausing to drink as she crosses the Gros Ventre River in Wyoming.

Moose calf calling to mother on opposite shore of the Gros Ventre River in Wyoming.

Moose calf crossing the Gros Ventre River in Wyoming.

Reptiles & insects at Breney Common NR.

Common Lizard

 
A short hop from Davidstow took me to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust reserve at Breney Common and a few hours of macro photography.

The poor weather was continuing to keep dragonfly & butterfly numbers low but I still managed to grab a few shots.

Black Darter

Common Blue Damselfly

Common Darter

Misc. hoverfly

Dunlin at Davidstow airfield

Dunlin

It all fell right today with my day off falling when it wasn't bucketing with rain!

A quick scout around the disused Davidstow airfield turned up a couple of Dunlin in really great light and boy were they co-operative!

Dunlin

Dunlin wing stretching

 

 

 

Dunlin

Dunlin

Juvenile Kingfisher

Juvenile Kingfisher

Watched this young kingfisher perched on a delightful arched over, reed stem, this evening in at Walmsley sanctuary.
Unfortunately it was too far away to get a good shot so I had to take 2nd best when it flew onto the fence surrounding the new sluice.

Always a treat to see a kingfisher!!

Pied Flycatchers

Female Pied Flycatcher

A few more images from our trip to Finland recently.

Pied Flycatchers were one of the commonest nesting birds we saw in the eastern border area with pairs in many of the available nesting boxes we found.

Here are some shots of both the male and the female although the male often passed food to the female away from the nest and she delivered to the nestlings.

Female Pied Flycatcher

Female Pied Flycatcher

Male Pied Flycatcher

Goss Moor field trip

Female Black tailed Skimmer

The fine weather sparked a large turnout for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Photographic Group field trip to the Goss Moor in mid Cornwall.

There were a few insects to photograph but overall numbers were low due to the long spell of awful weather we've had. A few images follow.

Small Red damselflies paired

Ragged Robin

Common frog

Flowers at Polly Joke

I took advantage of the break in the torrential downpours that have been the Cornish summer this year to pop out to Polly Joke & West Pentire for the Corn Marigolds.

Fortunately I wasn't too late and there was still a great display interspersed with a few poppies and also Borage.

I also found a nice Golden ringed Dragonfly sheltering from the wind at the edge of the field.

Corn Marigolds and Poppies at Polly Joke

Corn Marigolds and Poppies at Polly Joke

Corn Marigolds and Poppies at Polly Joke

Borage (I think)

Poppies at Polly Joke

Golden ringed Dragonfly amongst the Corn Marigolds