Alcan Highway ~ Southbound

Had a great trip down the Alcan Highway, the timing was perfect with the changing of the colors and the snow dusting the top of the mountains. Looking forward to the return trip, perhaps by then the snow will have driven the Rock Sheep to lower elevations.

In the next photo, there is always a herd of Elk in a pasture just before you get to Toad River Lodge. This year was no exception, but I could only get distant shots as they hold on the far side of the pasture. Looked at the Elk, wondered where the horses were at and traveled down the highway less than a hundred yards and there is the Mule Deer Buck that I was worried about getting on my trip. He was running with a smaller buck which is typical just prior to the rutting season. He goes onto my record, however, at the time I did not know what awaited further down the road and a few days later.

The Toad River area is my favorite place on the Alcan, there are so many species with strong populations in this area.

Mule Deer ~ Alcan Highway ~ Toad River

Yes, he is "sticking his tongue out at me" ~ I have that effect on animals. (See previous posting)

Still excited about getting my Mule Deer for my collection, I traveled only a few miles and came across yet another herd of Caribou. At this time, the herds consisted of a half dozen cows and calves as the bulls have yet started herding them up for the rut. However, this bull Caribou got a early start and had already selected a few lady friends. I was surprised to see him, although no Record Book trophy, he is big enough for my record book. Watch a valuable lesson in nature with him. He was road smart. He was following the ladies, they crossed the road in front of me, half of them spooked and went back on his side of the road. The others got across as I come to a complete stop and shut my truck off. By butting them and working like a cutting horse, he got them to start crossing the road, about that time, the cows that had crossed thought they should go back so he had cows going both directions. It took him a few minutes to get all of them going in the same direction, but eventually they crossed and he was the last one to make the transit.

Looks like he has fed well this summer, nice shiny coat, he is ready to go to the prom and then wait out the long winter.

You cannot help but take pictures of Buffalo. So far I have collection of Buffalo pictures from the Yukon, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Upon my return, this winter I will take some pictures from each region and see how they compare in size and coloration.

Eight Days On the Road

Tonight, I sit just a stones throw from the east side of the Milk River, a far piece from the south bank of the Anchor River. Have crossed a lot of rivers in the past eight days. I am currently in Malta, Montana after crossing the prairie of central Montana today. This morning I woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the Montana Rocky Mountains at the entrance to Glacier National Park, tonight, rolling hills of grass.

To date, I have had a great trip, have not seen a touch of rain or clouds, since I left Alaska. The prior planning last winter has paid big dividends in locating game and picking the best route. Although, some may want to contest that when they see my map book. Had to go to Thompson Falls, Montana to see a concentration of Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep. That put me a couple of hundred miles south of the Canada Border. Saw more sheep in one day than I have in my lifetime. Unfortunately, the big rams have not moved down from the higher elevations for the rut. I saw primarily ewes, lambs, and small rams that are going to get their butts kicked in a couple of weeks for messing with the girls.

Yesterday, I had to cut back north to get to Glacier National Park to find a Mountain Goat, finding myself forty miles from the Canadian Border. Wanted to drive the "Highway to the Sun" which bisects the park. Arriving at the west side gate, I discover the pass is closed for the season due to construction. Only option was to drive to the east entrance, which was suppose to be my exit point to drive across Montana. Had a beautiful drive to the almost the top of the park, but again road construction and the road was closed. All I needed was two more miles to get to the goats! However, it is spectacular country and the fall colors are just starting to show good. Retreating, I headed across Montana.

Yesterday morning, I had a fantastic morning at the National Bison Refuge a few miles west of Thompson Falls. Although, named for the bison there is a variety of wildlife. Evidently, it is the time of the season that anything that has horns is in the mating mood. The deer, elk, antelope, and sheep seem to always group but the breeding males will run around together, knowing that within a few weeks they are going to be fighting. The Bison Refuge is a drive through area, 24 miles of roadway. The first two animals were two trophy size Mule Deer running together. Later, while coming down a steep pass, I happened to look down the slope, to Mule Deer Bucks were sparring. By the time I got stopped, got my camera ready they decided their play period was over. I would have loved to had a shot of them locking up horns, but at least I got to see it in reality. They were also very big bucks, but the smaller one has probably testing the larger one to see how a real battle would play out. A few miles down the road, came across a big herd of Antelope in a meadow. There was 27 does and one very massive buck. The buck Antelope I saw in Colorado last year was big, but this guy was a trophy book animal. He was proud of his little group of ladies. He would use his antlers and rub them on the brush, often bringing up grass clinging to his horns. Every time a doe would squat, he would run over and sniff the ground, I assume to check the scent to see if she was in season. Out of nowhere, a second, but smaller buck showed up! The big buck caught him and gave chase. Chased after him for a quarter of mile before returning to the herd. A little later, the smaller buck tried to sneak back and once again, the chase commenced. The small buck finally got the message and stayed a safe distance away from the herd.

To date, on the trip I have got some good photos of a trophy class Bull Caribou (at least in my book), trophy class buck Mule Deer (5), largest Bull Elk, I have ever seen, and hundreds of pictures of Big Horn Sheep, but no big Rams, but they will come.

Now, you ask why I am in Malta, Montana. Just south of here is the Russell (famed western artist)Wildlife Refuge which has a variety of wildlife in the Missouri Breaks. Checking around this evening, talked to one local that assured me that the was down there last weekend a saw literally 1,000 Elk including the bulls ready to go into the rut. If this rumor is true, I will be ecstatic, if I see just a few, I will be happy!

However, if some think I am out just to get that trophy shot, some of the best shots come from the little ones, their curiosity and innocence is much like that of our own little ones.

This young Caribou did not think I should be using his highway, so he stuck his tongue out at me. (Alcan Highway)

This youngster, did the opposite, turned her back on me told me to "piss off" the highway was her personal trail. (Alcan Highway)

This young Buffalo Calf, did not care who was watching, it was lunch time and he was hungry. (Alcan Highway)

Downtown Thompson Falls, Montana. Took "Dutch" down to play in the park and found this doe and her fawn enjoying the waters edge.

Last night, Dutch and I cooked dinner and made morning coffee by flashlight, camped in a little grove of aspen trees that were turning gold. This morning awaking just before daylight, I was having my morning coffee (Thermos Bottle) and from the front window of the Ford Motel, I could barely make out a sheer rock wall of a mountain several hundred feet high. As I sat there, having my coffee and waiting for good shooting light, I watched the bluff turn from a light red to a very deep red as the sun rose over the mountains behind us. It reminded me of a story I heard about about guy as to wheter he caught any silvers that morning, he ran out across the ball field and hollered back,"no, but I caught a beautiful sunrise", my thoughts were of him.

Coundown 365 ~ T-250

The coming of the fall season is arriving rapidly, soon we will be seeing flocks of waterfowl winging their way south for the winter. Today, while visiting the Eagle Nest I could not help but notice the parking and camping area in the tidal zone of the Anchor River was empty. Since early May this area has been used by visiting fishermen, today it was vacant.

On Monday, the last day that I visited the Eagle Nest, although the third sibling had stopped by to visit for a couple of couple of days, he had once again departed the nest for for what is assumed good. His two remaining siblings in the nest, continued to practice that aerial maneuvers from the safety of the nest.

Today, arriving at the nest I found it to be vacant as the set of siblings also departed the safety zone and protection of their parents. For the first time, the nest is empty although the siblings do remain in the area perching in adjoining trees

"Empty Nest"

Although a prospective "renter" did stop by to check out the digs to see if they would be suitable for a winter home.

"Magpie Visiting Eagle Nest"

As the day breeze commenced, blowing up the slopes of the bluff, the young Eaglets came out to play on the wind currents, perhaps their concept of "passing in review". Two of them spent the better part of an hour gliding in the air currents above the nesting area.

"Young Wings"

"Flying Like A Pro"

"Catching A Downdraft"

Every new pilot has to be tested by the more experienced, however in this case, the crow had been heckling the "new flyer" by doing dive bombs on him. In this photo, I can only imagine, the Crow must feel like a Piper Cub aircraft with a F-16 Fighter Jet bearing down on him. It was enough to send the crow on his way.

"Combative Maneuver"

Just as I was getting ready to leave, I was packing up my camera and happened to glance at the nest to see one of the young birds return to the nest, just a brief touch and go and likely the last time I will get a picture of one of them on the nest.

"Stopping By To Say Goodbye"

I have no concept, how many hours that I have sat on the bluff, watching the nest and photographing their growth. I started watching them as they were laid in the nest as eggs, their hatching, and the changes that transformed during the brief summer. I have taken over 1,000 shots of them during the summer months, it has been a great educational opportunity watching their development, individual personalities, and traits. I will miss the family, hopefully the parents will return in the spring and once again raise a family. I wish them fair winds in their journeys.

The Eagles are not the only ones that have been preparing their young to live on their own and survive their environment. The cow moose that has been staying in our meadow all summer returned to our yard with her youngster. Earlier in the spring, he had to jump our lawn fence to follow his mother, but now, he is larger and able to follow in his mothers footsteps. He is prepared to handle the deep snow that he will encounter this winter.

"Resident Cow Moose"

"Her Calf ~ Born In May"

"It Has Been A Great Summer"

Countdown 365 ~ T-244

Spent an hour this morning, visiting the Eagle Nest, arriving to find that once again, the "Brazen One" has slipped the bonds of his nest to do a little more exploring. He has not traveled far, although, I could not see him, I could hear his cackling coming from a nearby tree. His siblings also knew his location as they were reacting to his constant chatter. Perhaps, he was encouraging them to also take the leap. They to are starting to gain their independence, spending the majority of their time outside the nest, roosting on adjoining limbs and using the nest as a landing site for their short experimental flights.

While watching the Eagles, I also had the chance to catch a beautiful rainbow splashing it's colors into Cook Inlet. Perhaps, this particular spot would be a good place to do a little Halibut fishing.

"Cook Inlet Pot Of Gold"

With early fall commencing, the time has come to harvest the bounty of the long summer days if you are so inclined to feed on wild berries. Mother nature has provided a great food supply for the next couple of months.

"Elder Berry Picker"

Arriving at the nest, I found the remaining two Eaglets outside the nest, basking in the sun after the rain showers that we have seen over the past twenty four hours. Note the one Eaglet has his head rotated and looking backwards. How do they do that?

"Enjoying The Sun"

"Test Fight Into The Nest"

"Stuck The Landing"

"Wings Of Freedom"

"Checking Wind Direction"

"In Nest Flying To the Perch"

"Sibling Disagreement"

Coundown 365 ~ T- 240

"Miracle Of Nature"

It was ten days ago that I made my last posting, on August 18th, 2010. It was that day it was discovered that one of the Eaglets had left the nest. Although, I could hear him on the ground from my vantage point on the bluff I could never locate him. A few days later, the Eaglet had moved down the bluff line to a second location. Again, you could hear him calling and the adult birds would perch overlooking his / her location. The two Eaglets remaining in the nest also would look in the direction of his call. A fellow Eagle fan called me to report that she had spotted him part way up a Cottonwood tree, sitting on a branch. I spent several days photographing the adults and two remaining Eaglets without seeing the third. Today, I got a call from my friend and she reported that the Eaglet had returned to the nest. I could not believe it, I rushed over and spent two hours observing the nest and the three Eaglets. From his previous reported location, the infant would have had to travel 50 - 60 yards on the ground and then figured out a way to get up the Spruce Tree to where the nest is located. The nest is approximately 30 to 40 feet from ground level. Flying the distance can be ruled out because it is still practicing by jumping and flapping his wings. He is a non-flyer. Looking at the terrain, I can only assume, from the Cottonwood tree he was able to jump to a high branch, then to another tree and continue this process until he reached the nest. I doubt the adults could have lifted him into the nest since the little ones are now close to adult size. It will remain a mystery, as to how he got back into the nest, but he is once again home. He is a survivor. Today, during my time at the nest, I noted that all three of the Eaglets are now working hard to learn how to fly. Taking turns, flapping their wings, jumping up and down, and then jumping onto a close branch outside the nest. They are also getting more brazen as to where they sit, one decided to sit in the spruce boughs outside the nest because their normal perch was already being occupied by a sibling. During my two hour visit, the adults never showed up although the Eaglets kept calling for them, must have been dinner time.

Eagle Nest With Remaining Two Eaglets, Taken On August 26th

FAMILY UNITED "One Legged Perch? As Siblings Look On" This picture is misleading, it appears that it is perching on one leg, but that was not the case. The stick in his talons is actually a branch that was laying across their nest. This bird (Whitey) decided to get rid of it. First he tried using it's beak, could bend it up but not hold it. So he locked onto it with his talons to move it, however, if you follow the limb you will see that it is still attached the main tree. He finally bent it enough to get it out of their way. He worked on that branch for twenty minutes.

"New Perching Area ~ Spruce Boughs"

"Leg Muscle Exercises"

It appears that he is flying, however, he is jumping up and down rapidly and flapping his wings ~ just for practice. They are starting to clear more air in their jumping routine. The siblings watch each other very carefully in everything they do.

"Gaining More Air"

"Almost Ready To Fly" (Note One Eaglet Outside the Nest In Spruce Perch)

"Showing Off His Flying Skills To Siblings"

"The Family ~ Two On Outside Nest Perch and One In The Nest"

"More Practice Flights"

It has been a great summer, watching this entire scene unfold from birth to the time they fly the nest, I feel very privileged to have witnessed and have had the opportunity to photograph a portion of it. It has been a great learning experience.