Late August

Mountains looked better today than they have in several days.  Hopefully the big wildfires in Idaho are coming under containment.
      I launched Dolphin into Spaulding Bay this morning and paddled toward the north end of Jackson Lake.  Aprons of rounded cobbles run along portions of the lakeshore, giving habitat to Spotted Sandpipers and California Gulls.  When the lake water levels are higher, shoreline slopes erode faster causing old trees and more rocks to tumble down to the beach.  Some areas have sandy beaches and grass, other bits of lakeshore are forested down to the water's edge.
     I saw 2 groups of Common Mergansers, one with 12 little ducklings following Mom Merganser across the lake.  2 Bald Eagles sat on tree branches in different locations, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew along the tree edge into the forest.  Mountain Bluebirds, Robins, and Yellow-rumped Warblers brought their nearly grown families to the lake edge for better foraging.  The forests are so dry.
     One of the photos is from last year when there was more snow on the peaks.

Fireweed growing on a partially submerged downed tree.