Trumpeter Swans

Near the end of the season, four Trumpeter Swan Cygnets were released in Alum Creek in Hayden Valley.   This was part of a program to try to boost the number of breeding pairs in the park as the reproduction rate has been low in recent years.   Two adult trumpeters were in the area and it is hoped that there will be a successful pairing.

I watched these birds on several occasions.  At that point, there seemed some animosity toward the immature birds from the two adults, including attempts to chase them from the spot where they were feeding.  I don't know if this is serious animosity or the type that may someday result in breeding/pairing between them.   Whatever the situation, the show was pretty incredible so I am sharing some of the photos with you.   For best results, click on a photo to enlarge and see as a slide show.  The detail in the birds and the activity will not be apparent in the small versions of the photos.

The cygnet in the foreground shows the usual grayish coloration.  The white one in the background is unusual as she has already gained the white coloring of the adults while retaining the pinkish bill and feet associated with the younger birds.

the adult birds have flown in from a bit upstream and the initial attack occurs

The four cygnets are females.  It is hoped the two adults are both males.  An additional single trumpeter spent the summer along the Firehole River.  It had lost its mate (they mate for life) over the winter.

Yellowstone 2014

I am back in Yellowstone, working as a photo guide.  After a two year break, it is good to be back.   This year I work out of Old Faithful rather than being the relief guide which meant living at Lake and doing the tour two days there and two days at Old Faithful while the other guides had their days off.  Now I simply work 5 days at Old Faithful except for substituting a couple of times at Lake.  

I wasn't sure how I would like this change but it has worked well.   Old Faithful can be hectic during the day, but  I am enjoying the tours on this side of the park.  I've located several new photo spots and of course, the best places to photograph change with the weather and the seasons. 

I haven't posted until now as the Internet situation in the park is slow, SLOW, SLOOOOWW.   But I am having a weekend away, have faster service so, while the text will be light, I've selected a few photos to share with you.   I am not putting captions, but all of them have been taken this year,  most from the west side of the park but a few from trips in other parts.   I especially love the weasel.  I was in Hayden Valley where a grizzly and her three cubs were feeding on a carcass.  But they were a long ways a way.  Suddenly this little weasel appeared.  I've only seen them a few times during my 5 seasons in the park, so getting a photo as well as seeing him\her during this brief appearance was a treat.  People around me could not understand my excitement.  Seeing a weasel is far more rare than seeing a grizzly in the park.  they were intent on the griz and cubs about 300 yards away.

I am also enjoying photographing the early morning steam, the fog, the geo-thermal features and the bobby-socks trees.  This has been an exceptionally wet year in Yellowstone so morning fog has been common.

Enjoy the photos.  You can click on to  enlarge or to view as a slide show.   Hopefully I will be able to do another update before the end of the season