Custer

Custer State Park

Custer, SD

May 27, 2017

Custer State Park is one of the few places in the world where you can see an abundance of wildlife  in their natural habitat.  We have been exploring the park’s 71,000 acres and continually losing count of the wildlife we have seen on each trip into the park.  Bison, pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes (hunting the prairie dog fields), white-tailed deer, wild burros and many birds including wild turkeys.

Here is a large female that I spotted walking a ridge line overlooking the grazing herd.

This is how a young bison looks after its first winter.  Growing those horns and shedding that winter coat.

The young bison are always under the cow’s watchful eyes.

After the gold rush in the Black Hills, miners abandoned the burros they used.  The burros still prosper in the park.  Here is a mother with new born.

 

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Red Dogs

Custer State Park

Custer, SD

May 25, 2017

We have been enjoying observing the bison herd with new calves, called red dogs.  They are just full of energy and then they suddenly just drop for a short nap.  Over the next 5 weeks, I will try to highlight the growth of these young calves at Custer State Park.

Our first morning out had an inch of heave wet snow and 32 degrees.  This curious red dog was wet and muddy.

The cow keeps a very close watch over the red dog.  Time to lose the winter coat.

They love to run and charge.

And an occasional muddy drink of water.  There are many creeks and ponds in the park but I think they prefer the mud holes.

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Rainy day in Canyonlands

May 12, 2017

Canyonlands National Park

San Juan County, Utah

Driving into Canyonlands National Park, I was distracted by the “open range” sign and there was cattle all over the road.  An RV hit a cow right in front of me.  He did not slow down because the RV had the right of way.  Too bad they don’t understand “Open Range.”

The clouds got darker as I drove deeper into the park.  Not a good day for photography.

I did spot a small grouping of Indian Paintbrush nestled in the rocks.

and some cactus flowers nearby.  I do love red.

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Sunrise in Arches

Moab, Utah

May 6, 2017

The light and colors are so beautiful in Arches National Park at sunrise.  I enjoyed a solitary photo shoot today.  The colors where fleeting but at the Courthouse Wash there is a 360 degree view of many sandstone monuments.

The colors started at the Tower of Babel with wispy clouds turning pink and purple.

As the light increased, I hiked up to Park Avenue.

Here is the Three Gossips monuments above a sand dune.

A panoramic look back to the Court House and Towers of Babel as the sky lightens.

Because the traffic was not too crazy, I headed up the Windows Section of the park.  Here is the North Window as the sky clouded up.

I will leave you at the South Window framed in spring flowers.  Arches is best in spring.

 

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Saturday on the water

Saguaro Lake

Tonto National Forest, Arizona

March 25, 2017

We spent a lovely morning touring Saguaro Lake on the scenic Desert Belle.  It was a perfect spring day to enjoy the water and the spring desert colors.

A view of the rocky shore of the lake adorned with yellow brittlebush.

A view of 4 Peaks with the saguaro cactus lining the shore.

Boating a big deal on the lakes of Arizona.  And a good time was had by all.

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Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Superior, Arizona

February 22, 2017

The Boyce Thompson Arboretum is one of my favorite photo hikes as spring arrives in the Senoran Desert.  It has over a 100 acres of gardens featuring plants from desert ecosystems around the world.

Come and take a stroll in the cactus garden.

A lovely pair of giant saguaro cactus rooted in the boulders.

an assortment of succulents, palms and cactus

The Outback Drovers yard

One of the many unusual views with golden barrel cactus

 

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