Sun, sun and more sun (blue skies too) today. The light was harsh at 8:00 am!

Today wasn't bad. It was slow in the morning but picked up in the afternoon.  Another 16 hr. day in the books. This Groupshoot is >50% history.

We saw lots of cool things and had several "just missed its" but that's the way it rolls here. Tomorrow may be completely the opposite.

We cruised from Lamar to Mammoth to Gardiner to Tower to Hayden to the East Entrance and back.

We saw a bald eagle attempt fishing twice. The second try he must have caught something really big and couldnt' fly with it as he "swam to shore" using his wings as paddles but when he arrived on shore there was no catch to be seen. He was several 100 hundreds away so by the time I could get close with 700mm, he was long gone. It was pretty cool. I had never seen that actually happen in person. We nearly missed 3 elk cows and calves, a pronghorn and 2 fawns, big horned ewes, bears and a wolf fight (between packs- according to second hand info).

I have heard this story from 3 people but I can't confirm it but... at 5:30 am today in Hayden Valley, I was told a grizzly bear (two possibly) flushed a elk herd and took down an elk calf. Nature at work in Yellowstone. Another confirmation that it is essential that one gets out into the Park EARLY to catch the action!

We got some nice images of a coyote hunting in Hayden, an Osprey's nest fight ins and outs, mule deer in evening light and other stuff.

The typical June Spring babes are here: bison and bison calves, cow elk with calves, and pronghorn with fawns

I was speaking with a wildlife photographer today (from Oklahoma). He said he has been in YNP since the first week of May. He noted that this week was the best light and weather they have had since early May. He said the last 3 weeks have been awful weather-wise. So, we are very lucky that the weather has been superb the whole Groupshoot to date. Also the Park people-wise is not busy at all but it still has it's fair share of Tourons.

All the members I have talked to who returned tonight to the hotel were thrilled with their day in Yellowstone.

Tomorrow we move on to West Yellowstone for the last three days of the Groupshoot.

Thanks to everyone reading this Blog!

Let's see what Day 5 brings to us.

My eyes are drooping.  

Goodnight,

Mark