Trailing of the Sheep Festival

Sometimes festivals don't always live up to the hype.  The Trailing of the Sheep Festival in Ketchum, Idaho, however, is not one of those. MSN Travel rated it as one of the top 10 fall festivals in the world, while USA Today called it one of the 10 best fall festivals in America.  From humble beginnings 20 years ago the festival in 2015 attracted 26,000 people from 36 states and eight foreign countries.  The festival's goals are to preserve the stories and history of sheep ranchers and herders as well as celebrating the rich cultures that have been part of the sheep industry.  Scots, Basques from northern Spain, and  herders brought in from Peru have all contributed to the rich cultural tapestry found in the festival.  Even a few Mexican, Chilean, and Mongolian people can be found working the sheep.
One of the many highlights of the festival is the Friday, "For the Love of Lamb" event in Ketchum. Ten participating restaurants offer the best in "American Lamb Baaaites" starting at 4:30 pm and ending when food is gone. The event is totally free! The streets were full of people following maps from restaurant to restaurant.  It reminded me of some crazy scavenger hunt.  Everybody was having a good time and eventually were too full to continue. Here is a mouth-watering list of the items offered by the restaurants:

Lamb Meatballs with Idaho Mint Tatziki

Shepherd's Pie

Lamb Meatballs

Lamb Lasagna

Roast Lamb

Denver Style Lamb Ribs

Moroccan Lamb Tagine

Lamb Strudel

Lamb-chetta

A very enjoyable presentation was held later in the evening in the local theater by some of the newer members of the industry.  Young people who will be the next generation of herders gave a presentation called "Sheep Tales Gathering: The Next Generation"  Some of the stories were very humorous while others were passionate and or emotional as these people told of their lives and their families.  

On Saturday the Folklife Fair was held a few miles south of Ketchum in Hailey.  Booths offering every kind of sheep or wool product you can think of were located in one section of the grounds while the cultural celebrations and performances were held adjacent to them.  During all this time on a large ranch north of the fair the 2016 National Point Qualifying Sheepdog Trials was going on. These trials go on for three days and anyone who has not seen these dogs work should spend at least two hours watching.  The interaction between the sheep, dog, and herder is fascinating once you understand what is expected.  Handouts and the announcer get you up to speed in a very short time. I would expect that many of the thousands of spectators left wondering where they could buy one of these Border Collies to bring home.

The grand finale of the festival is Sunday noon with the Big Sheep Parade.  It is an authentic trailing down Main Street as part of the annual trek to winter pastures.  1,500 sheep are moved through town by ranchers and dogs.  It is a popular part of the festival for young and old alike as the sidewalks are packed with spectators.  With all these people and sheep some precautions are necessary and parade etiquette rules are passed out.  To summarize: Stay calm. Stay on the Curb. No dogs. Keep actions and voices low so as to not spook the sheep.

The Trailing went without any problems this year and I would only suggest that they tighten up the preceding parade.  The parade started at noon but dragged very slowly for an hour. It was past 1 pm before the sheep passed by and this happened so rapidly that it seemed a little anti-climatic

Bryce and Zion National Parks

Fall is a great time to visit Utah's parks.  The temperatures are cooler and fall colors are a bonus. Do not, however, expect the crowds to diminish. Both Bryce and Zion are loved to death. Weekends can be especially busy.  Zion's shuttle system is very efficient but at times even it becomes overwhelmed.

Utah Scenic Byways should always be taken

On the way to Bryce in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

BRYCE

ZION

Pack plenty of patience when visiting Zion

Capitol Reef National Park

Capital Reef National Park does not get the visitation that the other better known Utah parks get, but that is part of its charm.  The scenery is spectacular but in a much subtler way.  The unique feature of the park is the Waterpocket Fold.  The fold has often been called a wrinkle in the Earth's crust but the dimensions of this fold go far beyond a simple "wrinkle". It extends almost 100 miles and through its history has always been a barrier for travel, similar to a barrier reef in the ocean.

The small visitor center is located in the Fruita Historical District.  In the 1880's a small group of Mormon pioneers established a small community here, which by necessity, had to be self-sufficient. They used the water from the Fremont River and Sulphur Creek to build an irrigation system that created an oasis for this hardy and independent group.  Always small, they grew apple, peach, pear, and apricots for themselves and for trade.  The park still maintains the historical orchards and a few of the pioneer buildings.  One of the most quaint and peaceful campgrounds you will ever find is also run by the Park Service next to the orchards.  Deer and turkey relax in the orchard and surrounding areas and campers are provided ladders and fruit poles if they wish to harvest some of the fruit.

Young bucks playfully spar with each other in the orchard.

The largest buck was beginning to get a bit more aggressive towards the smaller bucks as the rut progressed.

Petroglyphs, believed to be made by ancestors of the Hopi, Zuni, and Paiute tribes can be found in the park.  Animals and deities are easy to figure out while the other symbols probably describe travels, clan symbols and calendars.

Moab, Utah

Moab is a small town with a large boast.  Touting itself as the place "where adventure begins", a drive down main street soon makes you a believer.  If it has wheels, you can rent it here. Cycling, climbing and hiking are huge, but if you are more into motorized vehicles the choices are endless.  Jeeps, hummers, dirt bikes, and every type of OHV, ATV, UTV human designers can come up with are for rent here.  The area has many trails designated off-highway use from easy to downright dangerous.
When you get tired of land travel, the Colorado River is a good place to get rid of the dust.  A canoe or kayak is a peaceful way to enjoy the great scenery but scenic jet boat tours or white water rafting will add even more adventure to the trip.  Balloon or helicopter rides, skydiving, horseback (or mule) rides, and golfing give even more choices.

The real magnet for tourists, however, is the spectacular scenery surrounding Moab.  A preview of what scenery lies ahead can be obtained by traveling to Moab via Scenic Byway 128 off from Interstate 70.  This is a must for the first time tourist.

The centerpiece of Moab's attraction is Arches National Park and its beautiful red-rock formations including the most concentrated collection of arches in the world.  You can drive into the park anytime but be prepared to share it with a lot of admirers from mid-morning to late afternoon. Getting there at sunrise and returning to Moab by mid morning is the best solution for photographers.  A return to the park late afternoon (remember, it is only a few miles north of town) will give you stunning sunset red rock pictures.

The most popular arch in the park is Delicate Arch and it has its own parking lot (usually full) and a constant stream of hikers.  Often the hikers come in large groups and a party-like atmosphere ensues.
If you expect to photograph the arch without spectators in the frame expect to have a challenging time.

Another photogenic formation is the "three gossips".

Another popular area is Windows Section but almost anywhere within the park a short hike will get you away from all the crowds and give you plenty of opportunities.

Arches NP by itself would be enough incentive alone but there are other spectacular parks nearby. Nine miles north of Moab lies Dead Horse Point State Park  towering 2000 feet above the Colorado River.  It is often called Utah's Grand Canyon.  Legend has it that cowboys in the 1800's used the point to capture wild horse by running them through a narrow inlet and then using the canyon's steep walls to trap them.  A band of horses was left corralled there and died of thirst although they could see the waters of the Colorado 2,000 feet below them.  

South of Moab lies Canyonlands National Park which is divided into three distinct units.  Closest to Moab is Island in the Sky section.  The Needles unit is the farthest from Moab while The Maze is the most remote and requires a high-clearance vehicle.

KIRTLAND'S WARBLER - ONE OF MICHIGAN'S RAREST BIRDS

I often visited Mio, Michigan in the spring to view the rare Kirtland's Warbler.  This small but handsome bird was on the brink of extinction back in the 1970's and 1980's and I, along with many people from all over the world came to view it in case this little bird did go the way of the Passenger Pigeon.  Requiring very specialized habitat of not too young and not too old Jack Pine Trees, it had run out of suitable habitat and was in a fast decline.  A massive effort was made by wildlife specialist and with a little luck the bird has bounced back from 167 singing males at it lowest point to over 2000 singing males today (Only singing males can be counted but it is estimated that one female exists for every singing male).  Once found only in a small number of Michigan counties it has established small colonies in a couple neighboring states and Canada.  It has pulled back from the precipice and hopefully can remain there.

In previous years I had heard the warbler singing in suitable Jack Pine habitat in the Upper Peninsula and I decided to spend some time hoping to get some better images than the ones I presently had. Things could not have gone better.  I drove some dirt roads into suitable territory, got out of the truck to begin hiking and immediately heard one singing.  Within minutes I located the male bird singing constantly while moving around a small area.  The light was not perfect but I was very happy with the quick results.  Did I mention the bugs in the U.P. in June.

The old name, "Jack Pine Warbler" is easy to understand from this image.

Angry Kirtland's Warbler

Studies indicate unmated males sing more than mated birds.  Hopefully this male has a mate.

NORTH DAKOTA BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY DURING THE NESTING SEASON

I had hoped to return to North Dakota during June for the past several years but was always sidetracked.  This year I set aside two weeks, packed up the camper and took the long way through the Upper Peninsula.  I planned on spending a couple days around Trout Lake but nothing was cooperating except the mosquitoes.  After 24 hours of shooting through a head net and dousing myself with repellent all I had was a couple of shots of a Black-throated Green Warbler.  I had had enough.  The rolling windswept grasslands and potholes of North Dakota's Kidder County beckoned me and within a day and a half I was setting up near Horsehead lake, one of my favorite photography sites.  Black Terns and Forster's Terns were flying a circuit along the shoreline while Western Grebes and even the similar looking Clark's Grebes were courting in large numbers near the road.  All seemed to want to perform for the camera rather than fly away.  Yellow-headed Blackbirds made a hideous racket while the shy Marsh Wrens stayed out of sight but made their presence known with constant singing.  An American Bittern walked out of the marsh into the road and watched me for a while before disappearing back into the cattails.  American White Pelicans seemed out of place on the prairie but they constantly flew over the lake in good numbers.  Wilson's Phalaropes and Marbled Godwits were constantly making an appearance.  It was hard deciding where to point the camera.

Black Terns are not gaudy but always a favorite anyway

Forster's Terns have a completely white belly unlike the Common Tern

Courting Western Grebes.  A more impressive side-by-side run across the water follows.

Common nap time position

Typical grebe foot

A much less abundant look-alike to the Western Grebe is the Clark's Grebe.  Note that the black hood does not cover the eye as in the Western Grebe.  The bill is also smaller and lighter in color.

Male Yellow-headed Blackbird

Female Yellow-headed Blackbird

Marsh Wrens make a lot of noise but often stay hidden.  Always look for the exhibitionist

Definitely an exhibitionist

A female Wilson's Phalarope.  The female is the most colorful of  the pair and the role-reversal extends to who takes care of the young.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

After leaving Kidder County I headed west again and arrived at the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park near Medora.  These "Northern Badlands" are known for their rugged beauty while birders know that they often contain the easternmost regiments of western species while still containing many of the eastern species.  

Wild horses are a crowd favorite.

Typical sight driving through the park

Western Meadowlark

The Little Missouri River meanders through both units of the park

An open air park structure overlooking the Little Missouri River

Red-headed Woodpeckers were breeding at Juniper Campground in the North Unit.

Medicine Lake National NWR, Lostwood NWR, and J Clark Salyer NWR.

I had visited these three locations in the past but if you are close they are worthwhile visiting.  Medicine Lake is just inside Montana while the remaining two are near the Canadian border in North Dakota.  Lodging is always an issue here since the driving distances are long and usually there are no motels or campgrounds anywhere near the refuges themselves.  I have found over the years that many of these tiny towns have a city park that will allow self-contained camping overnight free or for a modest charge.  When you have to be on location before sunrise the hospitality of these small towns are a god-send.  In one town the fairgrounds offered good accommodations with shower and electricity for $10. You often find yourself completely alone but sometimes that is a good thing. 

The Following images were taken at Medicine Lake NWR June 7, 2016.

Marbled Godwit

Least Flycatcher - a plain Jane bird with a monotonous voice.

Western Kingbird

American Avocet

Marbled Godwits seem to resent your presence even when their nests are a long ways away.  They relish flying at you with their best imitation of an attacking fighter plane.  After a period of time they fly away but if you begin hiking they come out of nowhere to continue harassing you

Proof that this area is one of the top duck producing areas on earth.  A mother Northern Shoveler.

An American Avocet which seemed to be in some foraging behavior rather than a killdeer-like "distract the predator behavior"

Lostwood is known for rare sparrows but also has enough water to attract large numbers of ducks. These images were taken June 8, 2016

The reason you get up in the dark.

Clay-colored Sparrow, a handsome fellow but very common

Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow is much less common

Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow on territory

J. Clark Salyer NWR covers a large area of mixed-grass prairie with plenty of water to attract a wide variety of wildlife.  These images were taken June 9, 2016.  There are many opportunities here but few that I hadn't had earlier in the trip.  I decided to head back to Michigan with a quick stop to capture images of Kirtland's Warblers that I knew to nest in the U.P.

White-faced Ibis

Franklin's Gull often fly over fields while "flycatching"

Franklin's Gull-very common here but still a handsome bird with black hood, red bill, and white eyering.