Evening at Camas National Wildlife Refuge

While birding this week at Camas National Wildlife Refuge, an water oasis in the Idaho desert, the sun peaked through the clouds lighting up the Sawtooth Mountains to the west.  Meeting were scheduled and I had to leave before the sun set, but the light, snow, shadows and mountains thrilled and inspired me.

A great wat to finish an afternoon in the wilds of Idaho.

See other great sky pictures at http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Stormy sunset

Tonight as I was waiting and waiting for the snow geese to show up (the didn't) I did manage to watch and photograph a few other birds, but the sunset was stunning.  Camas NWR is my home away from home in the spring.

I almost waited too long to record the end of another wild day in Idaho.

Midge hatch feeds birds

Saturday I drove to Henrys Lake to check on spawning fish and on the way home I decided to check the Henrys Fork for birds.  Midges were hatching by the millions and were all over the snow.

The first birds I noticed were European Starlings feeding on the midges.

A little further down the road I found what I was looking for - waxwings.  About 100 Bohemian and Cedar were sitting in the bushes, flying out to pick off the hatching midges.  Only a few of them were Cedar's while the majority were these beautiful Bohemians.

At times I would catch one "sallying" or hoovering  long enough to pick of the flying insects.  Robins and Mountain Bluebirds were joining the waxwing in the feast.

What a great sight to see, spending a few hours in the wilds of Idaho.

Sunset between storms

Yesterday while chasing migrating waterfowl around Southeastern Idaho during storms, the sun decided to set and tell me good night.  Another storm was rolling in as I headed home.

A great view to end another wild day in Idaho.