Yellowstone N.P. - HAYDEN VALLEY

DAY 3:

Our last day in Yellowstone N.P. was full of wonders (again). 

We left West Yellowstone early in the morning and drove straight East to canyon where we took a 90 degree turn south to Hayden Valley. It was a promising day as we began to follow Yellowstone River. After all the falls and tumbles through the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone the river calms down and enters a peaceful valley named after Ferdinand V. Hayden - a US geologist of the 19th century. He was one of the principal figures who ensured that Yellowstone became a National Park - the very first National Park in the world. (watch this NG video). This sounds really simple .... but imagine that there was no such thing before ANYWHERE .... and the population was a fraction of what it is today ... how could one even come up with an idea of a National Park? 
Hats off to Mr. Hayden and all those who were able to foresee the importance of such creation.

On Day 3 we were to travel the beautiful valley named in Mr. Hayden's honour.

Even before we got there we had our wildlife fill of the day:

Somewhere near the junction at Canyon we were able to observe a lone bison bull. One ton of muscle and bone mowing the lawn at the edge of the pine forest! Too busy trying to get into prime condition it would not lift his head,  just kept on mowing. 
But make no mistake - a momentary glint of the eye let us know that he was well aware of our presence. We were quite far and hiding behind the car and behind the 400 mm lens. It would not be a good idea to disturb this bull - he can run well past 60 km / hour and it is well known that the bison are the main reason of injuries in the park. 

Hayden Valley is rich in wildlife, one of the reasons is that Yellowstone River winds its way through it creating great environment for creatures - large and small - who live here partially or permanently throughout the year.
We were lucky to spot a pair of Trumpeter Swans, Cygnus buccinator. They were searching the bottom of the river for plants and allowed us to take numerous photos. The largest of the North american waterfowl birds were once close to extinction; thankfully, now their numbers are on the rise. 

White and Yellow Balsam Root flowers!!!!
A whole meadow of White Balsam Root - we had no idea that the white ones existed!?!

Actually, further look made us believe that these were Mule's Ears, Wyethia heliantoides. We saw them only in two places and they were beautiful.

They can be white or yellow, Wyethia amplexicaulis and the two can hybridize. 
And YES, they can be easily confused with Balsamroot.

Further down we encountered a Black Bear, Ursus americanus. Not too impressed with all the attention it walked the bottom of a deep gully pretending that the humans up above by the road weren't there. Only the ears pointed to the back were the sign of the bears dissatisfaction with the human crowd. It gave us less than five minutes and was gone.

Another lonely bison was making its way towards its chosen spot. This was the only time when we saw a bison with his head held up. And even here it wasn't for too long..

Someone declared that there was a pack of Hayden Valley wolves to be seen - they "just ran into these woods over there".

So we waited to get a glimpse. Nothing happened for a long time while the crowds grew.
It was an American White Pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchosm,  making its way across the valley and bidding us a farewell.
What a day!



One last stop lay ahead before leaving the park.