"So what are you doing in the Park now ?", my friend asked. The busy tourist season at the Gift shop is over, now its time for the retired people to come. Campground is still full, cabins are still full, and the retired people tend to stay longer than one or two days. The store is less busy, they buy less stuff for themselves and a few postcards with postage stamps for their grandchildren. Labor Day holiday brought some big sales. One customer bought 4 pieces of Native American jewelry, spending nearly $ 2000. Those transactions help the monthly sales numbers.
During my weekends I rarely leave the Park because there is so much available inside the Park. Last weekend, however, I went to Idaho to look for migrating birds. Camas NWR is north of Idaho Falls, and has a good auto tour route. I was surprised to see most of the ponds are dried up. A few ponds still had water, and birds. I was happy to see a Wilson's Phalarope still present. That afternoon I drove to Soda Springs. In the morning I visited Blackfoot Reservoir by driving on a well-maintained gravel road to a location mapped by Ebird. Western Grebes were calling to each other, and Brewer's Sparrows flitted in the bushes.
Grays Lake NWR is indicated on the Idaho Birding Trail map as SE 30. The area is closed with a locked gate. I hope they are protecting the birds and not the hunters.Twice I have taken Dolphin-kayak to Yellowstone. The first time I launched at Grant Village and paddled past West Thumb. It was a gray cloudy day, and quite windy on the return trip. The second time I drove up Yellowstone Lake had serious "white-caps" from strong winds. I did not launch.
Today I drove to Spaulding Bay at the south end of Jackson Lake and paddled for about 3.5 hours. Common Mergansers and Canada Geese are still swimming around and foraging. I found 2 Spotted Sandpipers on a sandy beach, and a family of Bald Eagles. Above photo of Grand Teton and Mt St Johns.
Photo to the left was taken from Jenny Lake earlier in the season.
Photo to the right was taken by a fellow adventurer. We sat on a hillside at dawn watching thru my 'scope for a family of Wolves to appear. No Wolves were seen.
