In the late morning we tried the South Park Wildlife Habitat Management Area. It took us forever to find the entrance, and then when we did, we got there a bit too late for much wildlife. Still the place seemed to be a haven for birds. Tree swallows, flickers, ducks and coots were everwhere. We also saw a pair of bald eagles, a red-tailed hawk and a merlin hunting the environs. After trying to sneak up on the red-tailed hawk, it flew off before we could get some good shots.
For the afternoon, we drove to the northeast and checked out Brooks Lake. It wasn't quite as good as what we had read about it. I think a good deal had to do with the heavy use by people of this park. Shortly after we arrived, a herd of horses was let out to graze on part of the park.
In terms of wildlife, there was an osprey fishing over the lake most of the evening and a few white-crowned sparrows in the sage. There also were a few of these Uinta ground squirrels around. If you've never watched a ground squirrel, you are missing out. They are incredibly active - foraging for food, scampering aorund, and climbing fences. You also can't miss them standing upright, guarding the burrows they have scattered about.
While the wildlife may have been a little slow at Brooks Lake, the scenery was stunning. The sun played gleefully with mountains which rimmed the lake - sometimes darkening whole swaths as it moved behind the clouds.
We left Brooks Lake and started our drive back to Jackson. Upon emerging from the mountains, we were treated to a spectacular sunset behind the Tetons. While trying to ignore a particularly nasty bunch of mosquitos, Alex and I tried to set up as fast as possible to catch the fleeting sun. In instances like this, the light changes dramatically in the course of a minute or two. I really wanted to capture the scene in panorama, but one frame never was quite sharp enough... Regardless, the moon just over the sunset made for an amazing effect.
