Finally Have My Eagle

Elk on the run...young ones too

Tonight we find ourselves in Boise, ID...home of the magical blue field.  We followed another Scenic Byway along the Salmon River through the Sawtooth Mountains.  The weather today has been less than stellar...cloudy with periods of rain and thunder.  We did manage a short hike out to a herd of elk that we saw from the highway outside of Stanley, ID.  They didn't take too kindly to being interrupted by Cooper and us...took off for the woods when the wind shifted towards them.  Cooper enjoyed his free time looking for ground varmints.  He poked his nose in more holes and came up empty...again.

The Great Hunter

Male Bald Eagle

Other than the elk we finally were able to sit and watch a couple of Bald Eagles along the Salmon River.  It appeared to be a male and one juvenile eagle sitting a few branches down in a large Cottonwood.  We kept looking for the female and after a bit we noticed the mate up on a nearby hill top.  Before we left there was another mature eagle flying through the air...it didn't stick around once the pair made their presence known.  So excited to see that many eagles in the same space...finally.

Juvenile...may be female

Female on top of hillside

Intruder Bald Eagle

In one of the open meadows outside Stanley we also spotted a small flock of Sandhill Cranes.  No young that you could see in the tall grasses though.  The last time we managed to find cranes they were so far away we couldn't get a decent shot.  Today they were a bit closer to us walking along in single file.

Single file...Sandhill Cranes

So excited...not

Tomorrow it's back to the Sawtooth...let's hope the weather improves so we can hike a bit before heading to Seattle.  Not sure Cooper can take all of this excitement.




*as always click the pictures to enlarge