A Short Rest

There are a variety of uses of trails in Fish Lake WA. Occasionally it is used as a phone booth, albeit temporarily. In addition to the usual wildlife this young man was captured on the trail cam.
Dale

Wolf Dispersal

This young wolf says it all; thin, awkward looking, insecure, on the move. Food is at the low point during the spring with hungry mouths to feed at the den so the yearling siblings start moving to new territory looking a mate and for space to claim for a new family. Other dispersers are alpha males who have lost their leadership role. The wolves of Crex are a dynamic group with a different alpha male taking over last fall. This spring wolf activity has been limited to hunting signs, a definite change from the last two years. The high water may limit the small mammals and deer may still be the primary food source causing the wolves to stay in the woodlands.
Dale

Phantom Trail

I was walking down Phantom Trail early one morning last week and found these tracks of fellow wanderers. The bear which had been heading toward me turned around and left the trail. The wolf continued on its way ahead of me. Male bears are starting to look for partners and young wolves are dispersing looking for a new family to join. I was enjoying the early morning sights and sounds.
Dale

Realistic or Impressionistic

For the last couple weeks I have been exploring Phantom Lake Trail. While looking for signs of spring to photograph earlier this week I walked along the hilltop at the Phantom overlook and spent an hour looking for photos. The sun was just breaking through the trees and the white flowers were brilliant against the grays and greens. Dale

First Adventure

I look forward to the emergence of fox kits each spring. There innocence and curiosity is tempered by a strong instinct to return to the den at the slightest unusual sound.
Dale

On to the birds

The spring ephemerals are on the decline and babies are starting to show up. Goslings are on the roads and fox kits are peaking out of the den. Warblers, those tiny birds that don't hold still, are starting to come through following the path made by the yellow rumps. Whippoorwills start their 3 AM serenade to alert the rest of the bird world to impending dawn. This is the time of year when the Crex orchestra is at its most diverse. Go for a walk and enjoy spring.
Dale

Sweet Tooth

This yellow-bellied sapsucker is enjoying a sugar fix. Later in the year it will drill tiny holes to attract insects to the leaking tree sap. Earlier a red squirrel was on the same tree licking up the sap. There's something universal about sugar cravings. Bring on the chocolate!
Dale