Day 4 - Wednesday
We upped and out early, heading for Pilgrim Creek Road, which was another site given to us by the helpful guide. There was a short flurry of excitement when Steve forgot to drive on the right but he was issued a crisp, not to say squawked, reminder and road safety was restored. We stopped for a quick look at Flat Creek: the Trumpeters were in site but distant and the light was rubbish. As we passed the well-known landmark of Oxbow Bend we could see a White Pelican and a great Blue Heron, neither close enough to justify a stop.
We managed to spot Pilgrim Creek Road in time to stop and turn onto it. It took only a minute to find the landmark pond on the right of the gravel road (which lacked the regular Moose visitor) and we were able to park up and wait for the promised regular Coyote hunting the open meadow. Unfortunately it hadn't read the script and was no doubt tucked up in a nice warm den with its nose under its bushy tail, while we shivered in the early morning chill and scanned the bushes for birds.
For once there were a few around, with Yellow Warblers flitting quickly through, American Robins in some numbers and a tick in the shape of a Warbling Vireo. Hurrah! The pond had a family of three Spotted Sandpipers and a Lesser Yellowlegs parading around its edges, and both Northern Rough-winged and Violet-green Swallows feeding over the water.
A long wait, and an excursion to the far end of the gravel road, failed to produce anything new though a couple of Sandhill Cranes and a Red-tailed Hawk were appreciated. Eventually we gave up and headed for Jackson Lake Lodge in search of breakfast, to find that many other people had the same idea!
We managed to fit in along the long zig-zag breakfast bar and order breakfast. The weather had deteriorated into showers so being indoors wasn't a big issue. Maz and I bought some postcards, hoping to find time at some point to write them. Old-fashioned these days I know, but I like getting them so I make sure to send them too.
We carried on to the unfortunately named String Lake which we had been told was a cert for Gray Jay. The sky was now very dark but we investigated the area near the car park and sure enough came up with a bunch of Gray Jays (tick), which wouldn't pose, kept hiding in thick conifers, called mockingly and then flew off just as the heavens opened. Just before rushing back to the car to take shelter we connected briefly with a couple of Ruby-crowned Kinglets (also tick) that showed badly up against the light. All very frustrating, we grumbled to each other while waiting for the huge splashing drops and rumbling thunder to cease. Not only that but there was a habituated family of Mule Deer - doe and two spotty fawns - wandering among the tourists, and signs all over the place warning about the Black Bear that frequented the area. No time to be stuck in the car!
Eventually the storm passed over and we hopped out again to resume birding. The Gray Jays were long gone but the Kinglets were still knocking about, resolutely showing badly either by hiding in the foliage or showing high against what light there was. With some difficulty we managed to get some features on them, but it was hopeless for photography. A very brief Western Tanager didn't do itself justice, but some Oregon Juncos and Chipping Sparrows showed well until we waved our cameras vaguely in their direction, at which point they went all coy. The bear, needless to say, failed to appear.
We decided to give up on this area and return to Moose-Wilson Road to look for the Great Gray Owl in better light than the previous evening. In fact, by the time we reached the turnout by the overlook, the sun was out, although there were still some seriously threatening clouds loitering in the area.
Following the trail along the bluff edge produced birds and some chipmunks, which a bit of study led us to believe were Yellow-pine Chipmunks. They showed well and we got good pictures, so if anyone thinks differently let us know once I've put one or two up. Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees were present but like every other bird today, doing their best to deny us photos. A Red Squirrel bucked the odds and gave great views at close range.
On the pond below several Cinnamon Teal were making their way through the willows, incidentally making photography, you've guessed it, difficult. It was now hot, and the early start, several days' efforts and frustration combined to require an afternoon nap for some members of the party.I kept prowling, without much result: then another thunderstorm started to loom and we made our way back to the car and then to Antelope Flats hoping to get some awesome Bison pictures. The Bison had decided not to be close to the road and weren't really anywhere they could be set in a scenic photo either. However, a very traditional, rustic farm was ideally placed to be foreground interest in a pic of the Grand Teton range so we wandered that way and then noticed a couple of ladies photographing something close and on the ground. Interesting. We investigated and found Uinta Ground Squirrels tazzing round our feet, not to mention Mountain Bluebirds and Cliff Swallows quite tolerant of camera-toting humans. We made considerable hay around the animals and birds, then repaired to Flat Creek where the Trumpeters were showing well again and a couple of Yellow-headed Blackbirds were sitting up in the reedbed just across the creek.
Not long after this a full-blooded thunderstorm began crashing and completely washed out the rest of the afternoon. Rivers were running down the roads, the rain was coming down in great gouts, huge lumps of water blatting down on everything and everybody fool enough to stick their noses out of cover.
We had a discussion about where to eat, and eventually decided on The Rustic Inn, which was just on the edge of town near Flat Creek. It was a mistake. Service was unconscionably slow and the prices were not matched to the quality of the food: nothing wrong with the food, but not as high-quality as they seemed to think. Beer was good but also expensive. As we were moving on again on the morrow we tried to knock off early and just about managed it.
John
