Frost warning after Father’s Day – must be Idaho

The weatherpersons promised freezing temperatures for 2 nights this week successful nan Upper Snake River Valley – must beryllium our Father’s Day freeze. It seems to hap nan mediate of June each year. I sewage a telephone from Island Park, “We are getting snowfall correct now, and we person 3 inches of snowfall already connected our deck!”

It was clip for maine to caput up to nan “highlands” to get a image of Sawtelle Mountain covered pinch a caller broad of snow; and to spot really nan wildlife was faring. At Last Chance I sewage caught successful a blizzard — moreover nan visitors from southbound of Idaho had slowed to astir 35 miles per hour, which was a miracle. By nan clip I sewage to Henrys Lake, nan snowfall had discontinue and postulation was backmost speeding down nan road. It was still snowing astatine Two Top, but Sawtelle appeared acold and frozen.

I decided to cheque retired a mates of fox dens. The foxes were still hidden successful their dens, but I saw a activity adjacent 1 of them. A doe mule cervid and I sewage into a staring match, erstwhile I saw immoderate activity successful nan brushwood beneath her. Finally, I was capable to spot 2 large ears, past different 2 were added arsenic her newborn fawns worked their measurement done nan bush. I watched arsenic nan 2 of them nuzzled each different earlier disappearing into nan bedewed foliage. The doe ne'er did let maine to get a bully image of her. Even though they were wet, they ne'er seemed to complain.

Two fawn mule cervid nuzzle each different successful nan rainfall adjacent Henrys Lake. | Courtesy Bill Schiess

I stopped astatine a business to get maine a snack, and nan upwind was nan main taxable for discussion. There was a batch of complaining astir nan wind, rain, snow, and cold, but I recovered a happy female that told maine that nan complaining will really get large erstwhile nan power hits this play and nan mosquitos hatch out. “Seems for illustration immoderate folks are ne'er happy, but those biting insects will be!”

A flock of pelicans sportfishing connected nan Henrys Fork adjacent Big Springs. | Courtesy Bill Schiess

The Henrys Fork of nan Snake River was a engaged spot for birds. I stopped to watch a flock of achromatic pelicans swimming successful unison arsenic they scooped up minnows and mini food arsenic they herded nan food upstream. There was besides a flock of 7 antheral mallards feeding connected nan stream veggies. I conjecture they were partying arsenic their important others were either sitting connected a nest location aliases keeping nan kids lukewarm during nan wintery day.

Four of 7 Mallard drakes partying while nan females thin nan small ones. | Courtesy Bill Schiess

One of nan places that I emotion to sojourn each clip I spell to Island Park is Silver Lake astatine Harriman State Park. The snowfall had missed it, truthful location were groups of group — mostly kids — hiking nan roads and enjoying a small sunshine, but I emotion watching nan birds connected nan lake.

There were 2 flocks of non-breeding Canadian geese feeding successful nan shallows. Near them was what I thought was a brace of Western grebes. But connected person examination, I recovered that 1 of nan brace was so a Western but nan different 1 was a Clark’s grebe. Clark’s person their oculus positioned successful nan achromatic of their face, while nan Western’s oculus is successful nan achromatic area. While I was watching them, a flock of double-crested cormorants flew successful to springiness nan Caspian terns a conflict complete nan mini food successful nan lake.

A Western grebe and a Clark’s grebe sportfishing connected Silver Lake astatine Harriman State Park. | Courtesy Bill Schiess

On nan measurement disconnected nan mountain, I deed 2 different snowfall squalls and was happy to get to nan level onshore by only having to dodge 1 much deer. I sewage location successful clip to screen my plot to prevention nan juvenile plants for nan adjacent 2 nights. It was so a frost aft Father’s Day erstwhile again successful nan Upper Valley.

A bedewed larkspur flower adds beauty to a dreary time successful Island Park. | Courtesy Bill Schiess