In this challenge host Anne asks us “What is your Photographic Groove? What type of photography do you truly enjoy? “
I enjoy the challenge of photographing birds and wildlife in their natural habitat. The header image is of a bugling Elk in Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in North Carolina. One fall we traveled there in hope of seeing the magnificent elk herd that lives there. We weren’t disappointed. I posted about our experience at Cataloochee Valley Elk in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
The following gallery contains some of my favorite wildlife images from our travels around the United States and Canada.
This next gallery contains some of my favorite bird images.
Our search for wildlife continued as we boarded our bus at 9:40 am. The 120 mile round trip to Kantishna and back took us all day. Our bus driver and tour guide Wayne kept us informed about each area we went through. The weather was overcast and rainy all day.
Our first two wildlife sightings were Grizzly bears. The first was close to the road, the second farther away.
Our first wildlife sighting was a Grizzly BearSecond Grizzly sighting of the day
Next, we saw two different herds of Caribou before stopping at the Toklat River rest area. There we saw Dall Sheep on two different mountains. The Dall Sheep look like white dots on the mountain without binoculars or a telephoto lens. The pictures aren’t too good but you can tell they are sheep.
Caribou grazing in Denali National ParkWe watched this Caribou herd as they moved quickly through the fieldBeautiful view from Toklat River rest areaThree Dall sheep. The two rams are butting headsFour Dall SheepClose up of one of the rams.
There were Caribou grazing on top of a ridge before we stopped at the Eileson Visitor’s Center for a stroll in the rain on the Tundra Loop Trail.
Another group of Caribou up on a ridgeEielson Visitor’s CenterWildflower on the Tundra Trail at the Eielson Visitor’s CenterAnother wildflower on the Tundra TrailArctic Ground Squirrel, otherwise known as suicidal ground squirrels because they run out in the road right in front of vehicles.
And then there were moose.
Our first moose sighting was this cow by a pondA big bull moose in the bushes
The Denali Park Road ends in Kantishna where several gold mines once operated. One of the mines was owned by the Quigleys. When the couple got divorced, Fannie Quigley built a cabin and lived there alone. When the national park expanded its boundaries the several privately owned lodges located there were allowed to continue to stay open.
Fannie Quigley’s cabin at KantishnaWe were on the bus for almost 10 hours
As we began our return trip we stopped at Wonder Lake where on a clear day there is a view of Mt. McKinley. In Denali National Park the chance of seeing Mt. McKinley is only 30% and the chance of seeing a bear is 90%.
A young bull mooseMoose in a pond in Denali National ParkWe stopped at Wonder Lake where on a clear day you can see Mt. McKinley
Other than stopping to watch some Dall Sheep far off on the side of a mountain we didn’t make many stops to view wildlife on the return trip.
Total wildlife count for the day: 13 Caribou, 12 Dall Sheep, 2 Grizzly Bears, several Arctic Ground Squirrels, and a Ptarmigan (the state bird of Alaska) flying low to the ground by the bus. A great day!
Day 24 and 25: Saturday, June 8, 2013 and Sunday, June 9, 2013. Jasper, Alberta to Prince George, British Columbia. Northland RV Park, Site 15 1/2. 247 miles traveled.
Our trip to Prince George, BC started out with a bear sighting about 10 miles after entering BC. We were driving through a provincial park when we saw cars pulled over. The bear was grazing the grass along the highway. There was another bear a little farther down the highway.
The highway wound along the Fraser River for a while. The river is advertised as the World’s greatest Salmon river. Later in the day we saw another bear.
Leaving Alberta behind, we entered British Columbia early in the daySoon after entering British Columbia we were in Mount Robson Park and saw this bear beside the roadAnother bear in British ColumbiaOur campsite at Northland RV Park in Prince George, BCMr PG in Prince George, BCEnjoying the campfireHenry is doing a good job with the campfireThe woods behind our site were carpeted with these ferns
Our supplies were getting low and the laundry was getting out of hand so we decided to stop for two nights. Next stop, Dawson Creek, BC and the start of the Alaska Highway!
Wandering Dawgs 