Saturday, June 20, 2009
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Yesterday seemed like a good day to visit Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge again. It's only 20 miles or so from RedRock RV Park (Island Park, Idaho) where I'm staying and it was forecast to be a sunny day. It was also a Friday, which means the "traffic" will be light. While most of the RV Park residents were going fishing or to Yellowstone National Park, I decided to see what new flowers, birds and other wildlife might present themselves to me.
I like the trip mainly because of the solitude out there and the lack of "traffic". The trip is all gravel/dirt road and this prevents many people from attempting it, plus it's overshadowed by nearby Yellowstone National Park. You might not see as many animals, rivers and canyons, but the solitude makes up for it for me.
At 6:05 AM, I was walking Reggie getting ready to go and assessing the weather. It was very foggy, but I could see that once that burned off, we should have a good morning. Sunrise starts around 4:15 AM this time of year, so the sun had a good start on me already.
Sun rising over Yellowstone Plateau (looking East) through morning fog.
As I traveled Red Rock road, the East Centennial mountains were shining in that perfect early morning light with the fog lifting in mysterious and scenic ways. I rounded a turn and noticed my old familiar friend, the fogbow. This is caused by the refraction of the sun off the tiny water droplets in the fog. This one was too close to photograph the entire "bow", but you can see the one I found at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge a couple years ago here.
Right half of a fogbow, or white rainbow caused by the sun's angle to the fog.
Of course, the fence birds were out in force. I'm sure they were as happy as I was to be out in full sunshine and NO RAIN for a change. (The jet stream has been south of it's normal position of a couple weeks and we've been getting the notorious weather from Washington state. It's predicted to change Monday!) The mountain bluebird, the Robin, the many sparrows were making as much noise as they dare for such an early time in the morning. It was breakfast time and they were scurring all over the side of the road and in the meadows finding the little catepillers, worms, and grasshoppers to satisfy their appetite.
Mountain Bluebird with early morning snack along Red Rock Road in Idaho.
Reggie and I stopped at our normal place where we have a fantastic view of the West Centennial Mountains, right next to Red Rock Creek and a large field or meadow to look for wildflowers. The Western blue flag (Iris missouriensis) usually grows here and I was anxious to see it. Unfortunately, I was a bit late for them, but managed to find a few scraggly souls to photograph. Meriwether Lewis collected a few specimens in Montana as well (in 1806.)
I looked around for other flowers and found a few to photograph next to the road. I found the Blue Mustard (Chorispora tenella), a four-petaled purple to rose-colored "weed" with flowers that attract your eyes immediately. Sometimes these plants can light up an entire field with purple. I'm afraid that the "weed" designator has been defined by the livestock and agricultural industries, and not the botanists or photographers!
A few other small but common wildflowers were in the field here, including a taller variety of Phlox that were a beautiful purple color as well.
Reggie enjoys sniffing out the flowers, animals and who knows what else at my favorite stop along Red Rock Road and Red Rock Creek. West Centennials in the background.
I like the trip mainly because of the solitude out there and the lack of "traffic". The trip is all gravel/dirt road and this prevents many people from attempting it, plus it's overshadowed by nearby Yellowstone National Park. You might not see as many animals, rivers and canyons, but the solitude makes up for it for me.
At 6:05 AM, I was walking Reggie getting ready to go and assessing the weather. It was very foggy, but I could see that once that burned off, we should have a good morning. Sunrise starts around 4:15 AM this time of year, so the sun had a good start on me already.
Sun rising over Yellowstone Plateau (looking East) through morning fog. As I traveled Red Rock road, the East Centennial mountains were shining in that perfect early morning light with the fog lifting in mysterious and scenic ways. I rounded a turn and noticed my old familiar friend, the fogbow. This is caused by the refraction of the sun off the tiny water droplets in the fog. This one was too close to photograph the entire "bow", but you can see the one I found at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge a couple years ago here.
Right half of a fogbow, or white rainbow caused by the sun's angle to the fog.Of course, the fence birds were out in force. I'm sure they were as happy as I was to be out in full sunshine and NO RAIN for a change. (The jet stream has been south of it's normal position of a couple weeks and we've been getting the notorious weather from Washington state. It's predicted to change Monday!) The mountain bluebird, the Robin, the many sparrows were making as much noise as they dare for such an early time in the morning. It was breakfast time and they were scurring all over the side of the road and in the meadows finding the little catepillers, worms, and grasshoppers to satisfy their appetite.
Mountain Bluebird with early morning snack along Red Rock Road in Idaho.
Reggie and I stopped at our normal place where we have a fantastic view of the West Centennial Mountains, right next to Red Rock Creek and a large field or meadow to look for wildflowers. The Western blue flag (Iris missouriensis) usually grows here and I was anxious to see it. Unfortunately, I was a bit late for them, but managed to find a few scraggly souls to photograph. Meriwether Lewis collected a few specimens in Montana as well (in 1806.)
I looked around for other flowers and found a few to photograph next to the road. I found the Blue Mustard (Chorispora tenella), a four-petaled purple to rose-colored "weed" with flowers that attract your eyes immediately. Sometimes these plants can light up an entire field with purple. I'm afraid that the "weed" designator has been defined by the livestock and agricultural industries, and not the botanists or photographers!A few other small but common wildflowers were in the field here, including a taller variety of Phlox that were a beautiful purple color as well.
Reggie enjoys sniffing out the flowers, animals and who knows what else at my favorite stop along Red Rock Road and Red Rock Creek. West Centennials in the background.I was anxious to find this years' specimens of Crocus or Passion Flower ( ). I recognized the part of the road that had a large concentration of them coming up ahead. This is a beautiful purple and white flower early blooming flower but alas, I was too late (thanks to the incessant rains that kept me from the Refuge) and all I could find was a quickly dwindling specimen and a large number of the seed heads for this plant. The seed heads are beautiful in their own right if not a bit like an unruly hair-do. For those of you interested in what this flower looks like in all its glory, look at these specimens I took last year in Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. I notice that I took that photo on June 9th, which affirms my lateness this year.
Soon I discovered several other flowers that were "new" for me this year, including the indescribably beautiful Wild Blue Flax (Linum perenne) (see right photo, click for larger.) I only saw a few specimens along Red Rock Road but they will soon be in much greater numbers. Some of them live along the forest road next to the RedRock RV Park here. I also noticed a few blooming plants of the Green Gentian or the Monument Plant (Frasera speciosa.) This almost all green plant starts its life in a state that continually (each season) grows leaves until after 20 to 60 years it grows a large stalk filled with greenish flowers. It then dries and dies never to spring forth again.
The Green Gentian blooms only once in 20 to 60 years and dies.
Soon I discovered several other flowers that were "new" for me this year, including the indescribably beautiful Wild Blue Flax (Linum perenne) (see right photo, click for larger.) I only saw a few specimens along Red Rock Road but they will soon be in much greater numbers. Some of them live along the forest road next to the RedRock RV Park here. I also noticed a few blooming plants of the Green Gentian or the Monument Plant (Frasera speciosa.) This almost all green plant starts its life in a state that continually (each season) grows leaves until after 20 to 60 years it grows a large stalk filled with greenish flowers. It then dries and dies never to spring forth again.
The Green Gentian blooms only once in 20 to 60 years and dies.In a field in front of the majestic West Centennials (with Mount Taylor), there was a large number of Grandfathers Beard (Geum Trifolum). I couldn't resist a photo:
Grandfather's Beard field in front of West Centennial Mountain Range, MT.
Grandfather's Beard field in front of West Centennial Mountain Range, MT.In this meadow, below the forest at the bottom of the West Centennial Mountains you'll often see Pronghorn. They didn't fail to disappoint me this time either. Last year, near here, I almost ran over a young Pronghorn hidden in the bushes. (see here). These two guys were grazing and when they saw us, they took off running. Of course they can run faster than any land animal in North America, so they were soon gone from our view.
Pronghorn Antelope at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.
I can see that I have rambled on too long. I didn't get to see any Moose this trip, or bears, but the quiet and relaxation made the trip worthwhile. I did manage to see a Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) that I'll share with you. Unfortunately, the sun angle was wrong, but hey, you can see it can't you? I also encountered a lovely yellow Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) along the Red Rock road.
Western Tanager on barbed wire near south end of Elk Lake, Montana.
Western Kingbird poses along Red Rock Road in Montana.
A trip to the Centennial Valley wouldn't be complete without seeing several raptors. They are hard to photograph because they are mostly flying very high and certainly on the other side of a fence that you can't cross. But yesterday I did have the good fortune to see one on a post next to the road. It was a red-tailed Hawk and was a very large and nice looking bird. Again, the sun angle wasn't right but generally, he is well-lit.
Red-tailed Hawk along Red Rock Road in Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
I'll finish off with one shot of the Red Rock Upper Lake and Shambo Pond with Montana mountains beyond. Shambo often has a couple swans with their young in residence, but I didn't see them there today. The wind was blowing strong and you'll see a distinct difference in color between the pond and the lake beyond.
Shambo Pond and Upper Red Rock Lake behind.
Well, I'll end it here. I did photograph more views of the landscape, more wildflowers, bright orange and yellow lichens, squirrels, white pelicans, more birds and much more. This is a fantastic place and I'll be out there again soon. There's always something new to share, so stick with me this summer and I'll prove it to you. Come see us and you can see for yourself.
Pronghorn Antelope at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. I can see that I have rambled on too long. I didn't get to see any Moose this trip, or bears, but the quiet and relaxation made the trip worthwhile. I did manage to see a Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) that I'll share with you. Unfortunately, the sun angle was wrong, but hey, you can see it can't you? I also encountered a lovely yellow Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) along the Red Rock road.
Western Tanager on barbed wire near south end of Elk Lake, Montana.
Western Kingbird poses along Red Rock Road in Montana.A trip to the Centennial Valley wouldn't be complete without seeing several raptors. They are hard to photograph because they are mostly flying very high and certainly on the other side of a fence that you can't cross. But yesterday I did have the good fortune to see one on a post next to the road. It was a red-tailed Hawk and was a very large and nice looking bird. Again, the sun angle wasn't right but generally, he is well-lit.
Red-tailed Hawk along Red Rock Road in Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife RefugeI'll finish off with one shot of the Red Rock Upper Lake and Shambo Pond with Montana mountains beyond. Shambo often has a couple swans with their young in residence, but I didn't see them there today. The wind was blowing strong and you'll see a distinct difference in color between the pond and the lake beyond.
Shambo Pond and Upper Red Rock Lake behind.Well, I'll end it here. I did photograph more views of the landscape, more wildflowers, bright orange and yellow lichens, squirrels, white pelicans, more birds and much more. This is a fantastic place and I'll be out there again soon. There's always something new to share, so stick with me this summer and I'll prove it to you. Come see us and you can see for yourself.
# posted by RV Guy @ 1:21 PM 
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