Best of YNP Spring, 2013

Best of YNP Spring, 2013, a set on Flickr.

Here's some of the best of Walt's shots from this trip to Yellowstone. More will come as we go through them....so many great shots.

Claire's Flowers from YNP, Spring, 2013

Claire's Flowers from YNP, Spring, 2013, a set on Flickr.

Well, you knew it was just a matter of time. Here are some of the more wonderful flowers, only this time with the 5D and it really performed. Walt also encouraged me to use a flash (it was cloudy today) and although it was during day, I think this really made a difference and made these crisp and detailed.

The only prob is that I left my wonderful flower, bird, animal and just general information books at home. I've had to rely on my iPhone app which is not a good substitute (for example search for a white flower returns any flower that has white in it, so that means purple and white, blue and white, orange and white, red and white, pink and white, yellow and white.....well you get the idea. It just goes on foooooreeeever! I'll get names for these when I get home. In the meantime, enjoy these voracious, tenacious and beautiful mountain flowers that have a limited amount of time to make good!!!

Another Day in Paradise

Another Day in Paradise, a set on Flickr.

Part of what makes moms and babies so cute is the interplay between them. This sow and cub seemed to be the most playful and most happy - who knows, but certainly most playful. That is as much due to "Junior's" energy level, as the sow willing to play along with Junior......to a point.

What's a mom to do when Junior is SO active that she is just plain ole wore out?.....well, only one thing to do: send him up a tree so she can get some rest.

After spending 3 hours with this delightful pair, we journeyed on down the road to Twin Lakes - South Twin Lakes to be specific, and there on the water just as beautiful as a "Swan Lake" ballet, was a gorgeous trumpeter swan.

She was digging in the bottom of the lake for greenery, so her head was a little on the dirty-colored side, but we didn't care, as she was gorgeous and we got some great shots, including shedding water after a good dunk!

Old faithful rainow

AI5R5395.jpg, a photo by ClaireOKC on Flickr.

Finally after another trek to Old Faithful we got the rainbow.

Walt's photos for my Bird fancy

Walt's photos for my Bird fancy, a set on Flickr.

This is so much fun for me and Walt is so sweet to feed my ornithological fancy! Here's a great collection - some I've never seen before - like the White-winged Junco (which has a little rose on his chest), and the Warbler, which I don't get to see often, and the cute progression of photos of the Flicker who seems to beckon Walt to take more pictures of her. Hopefully more to come!