Sandhill Cranes

Along with Canada Geese, various ducks and other waterfowl, these cranes can be seen at a protected refuge Near Ashland, Nebraska.

For more, go to: Nebraska Game & Parks - Sandhill Cranes

Little White Heron

Hmmm.... not having much luck IDing just exactly what type of heron this little guy is. Seen in the Platte River valley near Ashland, Nebraska.

Elk Spotted

Turkey Day!

Platte River valley, southeastern Nebraska

Wind Cave, South Dakota

Too Close for Comfort?

Can you see him? Out there lurking in the thick brush?

Yep, that's him...

And he's B-I-G!

It may look like I scrambled up a tree to safety to keep some distance between myself and a hungry bear, but that wasn't the case ;)

These Black Bears are kept a safe distance from watchers thanks to a high walkway at Wildlife Safari near Mahoney State Park. The animal life is allowed to roam, and the people keep their distance.

Face to Face

Whitetail

American Bald Eagle

White Buffalo

Painted Turtle

I came across a pair of these guys, crossing the road to see what was on the other side.

Mourning Dove

Barred Owls

This pair of owls are cared for at the Chet Ager Nature Center. Unfortunately due to injury they are unreturnable back to the wild. But as a tradeoff they will not fall victim to the many possible depredations of the wild. They will never go hungry or fall victim to disease in their new home.

Snapping Turtle

Time to Cool Off

A beautiful Summer day! Will post some more pics from today...

Great Plains Toad

Meet the pet toad! Handsome, isn't he???

Screech Owls in the Backyard

I had some visitors tonight while I was peeling poles in the backyard. A pair of Screech Owls right after dusk lit on the back fence and sat watching me. It was dark enough to throw my camera's auto focus off, but you can pretend that you can clearly see in my shot above that the light smudge on the blurry fence (especially if you squint just right?) is one of the pair just before she floated down to perch on one of my lodge poles, before eventually flying off.

Some tribes considered the Owl to be something akin to a bad omen, others took it just the opposite. I prefer to see my visitation as the later.

A Day at the Park

The Great Plains Toad

Look at the colors on this guy! The Great Plains variety is very similar to the Woodhouse's toad except he has brightly colored "warts" inside his black-edged spots. This little fellow actually found us rather than the other way around, trying to climb his way into our tent one morning near Grand Island, Nebraska.

Valentine Wildlife Refuge

The legendary Niobrara River

The watchful eyes of the prairie dog town

Warning Cry - Wind Cave N.P.