Category Archives: Nature

CUSTER STATE PARK – Custer #South Dakota

CUSTER STATE PARK

Custer State Park is a South Dakota State Park and wildlife reserve in the Black Hills. The park is South Dakota’s largest and first state park, named after Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer.  The area originally started out as sixteen sections, but was later changed into one block of land because of the challenges of the terrain.  The park began to grow rapidly in the 1920s and gained new land. During the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps built miles of roads, laid out parks and campgrounds, and built three dams that set up a future of water recreation at the park. In 1964 an additional 22,900 acres were added to the park.  The park covers an area of over 71,000 acres of hilly terrain and is home to many wild animals.

Custer State Park MapThe park is home to a famous herd of 1500 free roaming bison.  Elk, coyotes, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, river otters, pronghorn, cougars, and feral burros also inhabit the park. The park is famous for its scenery, its scenic drives (Needles Highway and the wildlife loop), with views of the bison herd and prairie dog towns. This park is easily accessible by road from Rapid City.

The popularity of the park grew in 1927, when U.S. President Calvin Coolidge made it his “summer White House” and announced from the Black Hills that he would not seek a second full term in office in the election of 1928.
~wikipedia

Wild Life Loop Road

Wild Life Loop Map

South Dakota is a ruggedly beautiful land to explore.  High on our list of favorites is Custer State Park.  The whole park is absolutely beautiful.  The Wildlife Loop road is so convenient.  It is very easy to drive and the wildlife sighting are frequently and plentiful most of the time.

Wildlife Loop Road travels through 18 miles of open grasslands and pine-speckled hills.  This beautiful land is what the park’s wildlife calls home. Depending on the day, you might see bison, pronghorn, whitetail and mule deer, elk, coyotes, burros, prairie dogs, eagles, hawks, and a variety of other birds.  A medley of colorful wildflowers and prairie grasses surround the road, making for a picturesque drive.

Our trip in late July 2017 was another memorable one filled with wildlife, scenery and of course, the burros.

The Bison

We had a bit of a rain shower when we found the bison.

Pronghorn Antelope

Burros

Prairie Dogs

Other wildlife and scenery

EXTRA

 

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Backyard Oasis

We have not had Orioles like this in the last few years.  Last weekend was an exception.  We have tried a few different style of feeders; perhaps that is what made this difference this year.  The glass tea-cup feeder we purchased at our local art fair and the other orange circle shaped one from Menards.  Maybe it’s just luck.

A friend of ours introduced us to the Audubon Bird Guide App (Thank you Linnae).  This app is very handy.  Pairing your smartphone up with a Bluetooth speaker allows you to play bird calls more loudly than just from your phone.  It certainly didn’t hurt the odds of seeing more Orioles.  It was a great way to spend an afternoon or two.  It is always a good day by the pond, camera in hand with an ice-cold beverage.

Northern Cardinals, Chickadees, Sparrows, Yellow Finch, House Finch and Nuthatch (not pictured) are always in yard at the feeders.  This particular afternoon PaPa Cardinal was showing the kids where to find a meal.

Chippy was out and about as well; so was Lucy.  She watches carefully for Chippy to make an appearance and tries like crazy to catch him, but hasn’t yet.  A backyard version of Wile E Coyote and the Roadrunner.  Lucy is a bit more coordinated than that coyote and comes close to catching Chippy every once in awhile.

The ample rainfall and warm weather has produced beautiful blooms.  The backyard is full of color once again.  This weekend we are wishing for the humidity to retreat so we can enjoy it some more.  Summer is short.  Enjoy what you can as often as you can.

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GLENCAR LOUGH & WATERFALL – COUNTY LEITRIM ‪#discoverireland

Glencar Lough

Glencar Lough lies in the Glencar Valley, between the Dartry Mountains to the north and the mountain range including Cope’s Mountain to the south. The lake is located about 10 kilometres (6 mi) northeast of Sligo and about 15 km (9 mi) west of Manorhamilton.  It is 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long from west to east and 0.6 km (0.4 mi) wide. The lake has two crannogs (artificial islands): one at the western end near the Drumcliff River outlet and the other at the eastern end near the Diffreen River.

Glencar Waterfall

Glencar Waterfall is located near the lake’s north shore on the Leitrim side.

Map

Glencar Lough is a lovely little lake surrounded by mountains and pastures full of sheep.  Glencar Waterfall is a short hike from the parking lot.  We were running behind schedule and almost drove by; I am glad we didn’t.  The parking area isn’t too far on the main road.  The lush green foliage and the sounds of the river and waterfall make for quite a tranquil spot.  If traveling through the Northern region of the Republic of Ireland this is a worthwhile stop even if it makes you late to your eventual destination for the evening.  More on that in the next post 😉

See more of Republic of Ireland 

See more of Northern Ireland

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And The Rain Came

There was a pretty spectacular presentation of Mother Nature yesterday evening.  Smaller, isolated showers were forecasted to roll through my area; there is no better place to take this all in than Memorial Park on top of Sorin’s Bluff overlooking the town of Red Wing.

iPhone 6S shot
iPhone 6S shot

Here is a brief time lapse sequence from one of the small storms bypassing Red Wing.

Here are some still shots of the weather rolling by out on the horizon.

And then this soaker-cell approached from over-top Barn Bluff; it was time to pack up and leave.

2016-06-05 Memorial Park-5116

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2015-12-03 Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

2015-12-03 Pileated Wodpecker

 

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Return to Fort Snelling State Park…more

Fort Snelling State Park

I neglected to post the sunrise shot from my visit to Fort Snelling State Park yesterday.  This particular landing on Snelling Lake doesn’t afford a direct line to sunrise at this time of year.  It does offer a view of the Hwy 55 Mendota Bridge along with reflections from its lights; with some clouds in the sky, it is a rather picturesque view.

2015-11-07 Fort Snelling State Park-Snelling Lake

I also skipped over posting photos from the previous day when I scouted out Pike Island.  I arrived at noon and the park was pretty quiet.  I met one photographer returning to the parking lot as I headed out.  He said he photographed a few bucks. That’s all I needed to hear.  I found one buck out on Pike Island along with a doe and a several turkeys.  All good signs that the trip tomorrow morning would no doubt be action-packed; it was.  Here are some photos from the 2 hours I spent on Pike Island on Friday afternoon.

 

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Return to Fort Snelling State Park #exploremn

Fort Snelling State Park

Today marked another successful trip to Fort Snelling State Park.  To be in the presence of and photograph magnificent Whitetail deer is exhilarating.  Last year was my first time at the state park hunting deer with a camera.  The experience this year was very similar to last.  The weather was much warmer and the timing a week later in November.  I could ramble on about the deer I saw and wild turkeys that where everywhere, but I’ll let the photos speak for the experience.

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Super Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse #time-lapse

In the US, Canada, and Central and South America, a rare Total Lunar Eclipse of a Supermoon took place the evening of September 27, 2015.  This event will not happen for another 33 years.  Fortunately it was visible near the Minnesota/Wisconsin boarder in a small Mississippi River town of Bay City, WI where my wife and I along with our friend Linnae photographed it.  Here are a few shots.

Here is a crude time lapse leading up to the full eclipse.

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2015-06-11 Spring Fungus

Spring Fungus

2015-06-11 Spring Fungus

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2015-04-10 Fowl Alarm

Fowl Alarm

2015-04-10 Fowl Alarm

Views: 88