Subject: [Tweeters] RFI: Need advice about Yellowstone + Teton road trip, next week
Date: Wed May 30 07:23:17 PDT 2018
From: Hal Michael - ucd880 at comcast.net

To add a bit more to the discussion, we primarily visit 'Stone and the Tetons in September, after "the crowds" leave. Since the wolves have arrived, the crowds are still there but smaller. Plus, the fishing is pretty good.

The animal watching is good because the fall migration and rut (for the deer, elk, moose) are beginning. The animals are out. The bears are gorging. As noted, the Lamar Valley is probably the best place to look for the big animals. As noted, too, there is usually a wolf den staked out. It is an early morning show but there is lots of expensive glass there to be shared for great views. Plus, very knowledgable folks to explain not only what is going on but which specific wolf you are looking at. At least in September, the quality of glass at the side of the road tells you what is out there. Expensive=wolf or grizzly. Modest=everything else.

As for birds, the Parks have always been "difficult" as birds are spread out. We took the Teton tram up the mountain to not find the Rosy Finch, but had spectacular views. For the birds, probably some research on ebird, plus asking at various ranger stations (they keep records of sightings like Great Gray Owl), will help.

Hal Michael
Science Outreach Director, Sustainable Fisheries Foundation
Olympia WA
360-459-4005
360-791-7702 (C)
ucd880 at comcast.net



> On May 29, 2018 at 9:20 PM Chazz Hesselein <chazz at hesselein.com> wrote:

>

>

> Dear Rohan,

>

> I made a trip to Yellowstone with a drive back through the Tetons a couple of years ago. I had a couple of target birds that took me a lot out of the way driving there and a little out of the way in Yellowstone. On the way I wanted to see Boreal Chickadee and White-winged Crossbill that had been reported in NE WA so I took Hwy 20 across state. Pretty drive but way out of the way. In Yellowstone I've seen wolves on two visits in the Hayden Valley. We went through the Lamar Valley on the way to my other target species, Black Rosy-Finch, on the Beartooth Hwy. (http://beartoothhighway.com/beartooth-highway-maps/). The Beartooth Highway is a national scenic highway and worth the trip. There were wolves denning in the Lamar Valley a couple of weeks before we were there so that's another spot for wolves. BTW, it was so crowded in the main geyser areas when we were there in August that we hardly spent any time at the main geysers and spent most of our time in the Hayden Va!

lley area.

>

> I went home by way of the Grand Tetons and only drove through but stopped at the Jackson Lake Lodge. We came through southern ID on the way home. Going that way we passed through the Craters of the Moon National Monument and stumbled on the Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area (https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/ibt/site.aspx?id=77). We were there at the wrong time of year but you should be hitting it just right. There's a nice place to stay in nearby Fairfield, ID; the Prairie Inn (http://www.theprairieinn.com/). As you're coming home from here you can stop at the Spring Creek Great Gray Owl Management area between La Grande and Pendleton, OR (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=stelprdb5287707). You're getting to the end of the breeding season, but they should still be on nest. You can call the forest service office and ask a biologist for directions to an active nest.

>

> Have fun!

>

> Chazz Hesselein

> Port Orchard, WA

>

>

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