Monday I took the kayak out for the first time this year. The lake is full and the mountains are glowing with their fresh coats of snow. I saw 3 Spotted Sandpipers in different places along the shore. A Sandhill Crane had come down for a drink and walked away slowly as I paddled by.
Tuesday afternoon Colter Bay had partly cloudy skies when a few strong wind gusts blew through the village. 5 miles to the south an intense thunderstorm cell had produced hail and lightning. A lightning strike on a few power poles knocked out electricity to all of Teton Valley for 5 or 6 hours. The important guest revenue areas have emergency generators, the restaurant, the grocery and gift shop, and Cabin Office. Guests were not happy as electric lights in the cabins did not work. Around 9 pm the power was restored and the generators were turned off.
Today was my one day off this week. I drove to LSR Preserve and hiked up to Phelps Lake. What a beautiful blue sky day !! The mountains were shining, birds were singing and I found a little purple Calypso Orchid along the trail. Exciting birds were Black-headed Grosbeaks, a MacGillivray's Warbler, Warbling Vireos, and Western Tanagers. Chipping Sparrows were most numerous, while the Golden-crowned Kinglets won for most vocal species.
Coming back from grocery shopping I stopped at the Elk Refuge pond. Redhead ducks and Ring-necks are mated, Yellow-headed Blackbirds were "singing" and a pair of Trumpeter Swans foraged together across from the viewing platform. 4 species of Swallows zipped around catching insects: Barn, Tree, Violet-Green, and Cliff.
Update on the Bear families. The older female, tagged # 399, is alive and well after an encounter with a male grizzley who tried to kill her yearling cubs. These 2 yearlings are now on their own and doing OK. The photo from 2 blogs ago is of a younger female, tagged # 610, and her 3 yearling cubs. When bears are feeding within sight of the road, park rangers enforce the "stay 300 ft away" rule.
Photos of a Mama Moose whose week-old calf was sitting in the willows nearby, and a few peaks in the southern Tetons.
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