Life's a Beach - Then...You Walk

This morning we had the entire beach to ourselves! 
No people.  Yes wildlife.  Water!

Shake it off!

Jellyfish!
Too late to save this guy.  I don't know enough about them to know if another animal feeds on these. 











Shark!  This baby was trapped in a tiny puddle of water after the high tide receded.  Scott scooped it out into the gulf where it swiftly swam away.  Have a good life little shark

Birds!

Seven and a half miles

Byam and Elk

Iowa once had a huge population of elk, so we headed over to see a few live elk near our campsite.  We stopped at the improved viewing area to watch the few elk and new sculpture before walking down to the playground with the really cool hollowed out log to run through.

Low Flying

Stopping for a night at a city park, Byam enjoyed her time watching the low flying geese.

On the way to visit our friends Ed & Eileen, we experienced a crop-dusting plane flying low.

Ground Squirrel #497

When I started this project, it was just to minimize the ground squirrel's tunnel-holes.  Nothing more than a little feeling of comfort and safety for our dog.  The ground squirrels can be seen climbing trees, but it is their underground access that I don't like.  (That and the ground squirrels dig up my potted plants.)  Those little tunnels are entered and exited by holes in the lawn that are just the size that can trip up a running dog.  Torn knee tendons are painful, expensive, and can change a dog's life.

So 10 years ago I started relocating ground squirrels.  Moving them to wild areas about town and into the countryside.  My neighbor had been using a Have-A-Hart to catch her ground squirrels, and I borrowed hers.  After 3 weeks of relocating 2-3 ground squirrels each day, I also purchased a relocation device.  And we started counting.   My neighbor moved away 8 years ago, leaving me to carry on.

Byam is looking at ground squirrel # 497.
Seriously, I don't live on an acreage, just a lot in town.
And no ground squirrel was harmed during the photography or relocation program.

Gray Squirrel

Even Kansas City has squirrels - and they are gray color!

We could hear Byam talking "Don't hold me back!   Let me at them!"

Elk in our Campground

These lady elk were within 15 feet of our nightly happy hour.
Byam sat quietly watching, barely breathing.   We heard the bull moose with his bugling.  Then when we did see him, he was up on a hill and did come down for to visit the ladies. 

The pine beetle infested and killed the campground's majestic mature trees with their beautiful red-brown trunks.  Since the trees were removed, we've seen more elk than ever.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Having an Airstream means that we can travel to any part of this country with Byam.  No scary airplane flights with a dog in the baggage area for us.

 Majestic.

This 3 to 4 year-old female moose was next to the road - she was very interesting to Byam.  We did disappoint Byam by not lowering the window for her to catch the moose-scent she so desperately wanted.

Brittany and Bison

Jester Park has a new viewing area with a few elk and bison. 
The bison kept Byam amused for some time.

Bison Bridge

What a surprise - we were looking at the lake and not the bridge!

Byam's 17th State and the Wild West Dogs!

We pulled over for gas, and I was not sure that Byam would ever want to leave the prairie dogs! She did not bark, nor whine to get loose - but she did stay focused!

Byam's Fun Monday

Byam is very tired, as 3.5 hours of pheasant hunting took a bit of energy off. Byam had six points. Byam was in the creek holding a bird steady after it ran. And then she was talking as the bird took off running.

Birthday Birds!

Byam had four points this morning but I did not get photos today. She held the birds great today...one was so tight that I was in front of her nose before it flew and I could not even see the bird on ground. Very windy here today some birds took off as soon as we entered the field out the other end. Good day but every field was full at the hunt club. Byam worked well with the three other dogs two GSP and one griffon. Byam was one of three dogs on point in heavy cover each dog came into the cover from each side. The other three birds she ponted she was the first dog to find the bird and the other dogs backed her on two points. The last point was her point only.
For a photo, see January 2nd photo.

Don't Fence Me In - Please!?!?!?!

Byam's Bambi

This fawn had our attention in the backyards for more than half an hour.

Byam was amazingly quiet watching...waiting...watching.

Watching the Bison!

 

 

Bison are Big!

Bison in Jackson - Big and Scary!

Jackson WY - Arch of Elk Antlers

 

Look at that stretch! Longer than an elk antler!