as we were watching the deer....a coyote came sauntering over the hillside and went and sat nonchalantly on a little hump, looking down into a ravine (I have pictures, but still in the SLR)
Here is a closer look at two of the deer, there were 6 in total.
Ernie took Shantz for a walk, so here is one last look at Chin Lake Campground, I think those two brown dots on the hillside are a couple of the deer....and that is the little ravine the coyote was looking into. Lots of bird life in that ravine!I would gladly have spent the day here, but it was decided to move on to Dinosaur Provincial Park ~ as I already mentioned this hadn't been in our original plans, but we couldn't see any other option at this point. We've been to Dinosaur several times before, knew it was open year round...so away we went. Stopped in Brooks for some more groceries, tried one gas station to see if they had water (they didn't), bought a fast food lunch and then started the 40 km run to the park...hadn't gotten very far when a light bulb went on in my head and I asked "Did you put Shantz's tie out in the truck?" "No"....well I hadn't either....normally we attach the tie out to a leg of the camper, that way it can't be missed, but at Chin Lake there had been so much room, we'd attached it to the fire pit grate...even that wouldn't normally be a problem, but this time, Ernie had walked her and put her straight into her kennel in the back seat of the truck, so neither of us noticed or remembered the lovely 30 foot tie out ~ so, back we go to Brooks, to the Wal-Mart to purchase a new tie out cable. Some dog owner at Chin Lake is going to have a real 'find'!
Once more on track towards Dinosaur. This photo shows the general terrain en route ~ very flat....so it is always a surprise when you suddenly get to the 'badlands' and drop down into the park itself ~ they'll be some pictures at some point in the future of the entrance area....right now we weren't interested in pictures, just getting set up.
The park, when we arrived, was actually very busy as there was a Dinosaur Run event taking place. It had pretty much wrapped up by the time we arrived but there were a number of people who had obviously taken advantage to spend the weekend. The above shows a section of the campground. There are 126 sites in total, although only this section was open this early in the season.
There we are, set up in this spot under a couple of the lovely big old Poplar Trees that are throughout the campground. The creek is 'Sandhill Creek' and from the muddy color of the water, you can tell they've had more precipitation than normal. You'll notice that the day has now clouded over too but it was still warm enough that we had the camper door open until almost 8:30 that evening.....mind you I was wearing 3 layers....
Here is a head on shot of our campsite, you'll notice the nice size of it...and the size of the trees. Shantz was fascinated with the creek and spent hours sitting in that spot (we, and you, will find out why tomorrow)
Here is another look at Sandhill Creek, this time looking off towards the main part of the park that is accessible to visitors....there is a 3 km circular road that takes you through the badlands and past a couple of 'dig' sites.
After supper we decided to walk along the left hand side of the circle route, to a path that we knew took you down to the river.....
This is the Red River which flows through the park. You'll note that 'spring' had just barely started here...the grass was turning green and a few shrubs were leafing out, but I was actually surprised that spring wasn't more advanced ~ you'll remember from Chin Lake that the trees were all leafed out there and this is usually such a warm, in fact down right hot area.....one time we were here the army was here doing 'heat training' for troops headed to Afganistan ~ that is how hot this place normally is.
Here is the general Sagebrush type habitat, with the large Poplar trees growing closer to the river itself.
Some of the fascinatingly shaped Poplars....
Here is some more of that 'Owl Clover'
This park holds more than Dinosaur bones....it is an extremely 'birdy' place. Red-breasted Sapsuckers abound.....
Ernie found some Red-breasted Nuthatch....
In the evening...the Mule Deer came out to graze on the new grass....took this picture while standing beside our truck....
Deer, here, are very used to people, you can walk up very close to them.....
as these pictures prove....
The day ended with a bit of a sun set adding a bit of colour to some of the hills.....
another 'evening' picture.....thus ending May 1st.
Bird List: Meadowlarks - could hear at least 2 calling; Robins - 14; Northern Flicker - 6; Magpies - 2; Downy Woodpecker - 2; Yellow bellied Sapsucker - 4; Canada Geese - 2; Mallard - 1; Black Cap Chickadee - 1; Yellow rump Warbler (Myrtle) - 6; White crowned Sparrows - 2; White throated Sparrows - 2; Brewer's Blackbird - 8; Starling - 4; Crow - 1; Ring neck Pheasant - at least 5 different ones calling; Ringbill Gull - 2; Prairie Falcon - 1; Northern Harrier - 1; American Kestral - 1; Killdeer - 2; House Sparrow - 6; Red breasted Nuthatch - 2; Mourning Dove - at least one calling.
Once more on track towards Dinosaur. This photo shows the general terrain en route ~ very flat....so it is always a surprise when you suddenly get to the 'badlands' and drop down into the park itself ~ they'll be some pictures at some point in the future of the entrance area....right now we weren't interested in pictures, just getting set up.
The park, when we arrived, was actually very busy as there was a Dinosaur Run event taking place. It had pretty much wrapped up by the time we arrived but there were a number of people who had obviously taken advantage to spend the weekend. The above shows a section of the campground. There are 126 sites in total, although only this section was open this early in the season.
There we are, set up in this spot under a couple of the lovely big old Poplar Trees that are throughout the campground. The creek is 'Sandhill Creek' and from the muddy color of the water, you can tell they've had more precipitation than normal. You'll notice that the day has now clouded over too but it was still warm enough that we had the camper door open until almost 8:30 that evening.....mind you I was wearing 3 layers....
Here is a head on shot of our campsite, you'll notice the nice size of it...and the size of the trees. Shantz was fascinated with the creek and spent hours sitting in that spot (we, and you, will find out why tomorrow)
Here is another look at Sandhill Creek, this time looking off towards the main part of the park that is accessible to visitors....there is a 3 km circular road that takes you through the badlands and past a couple of 'dig' sites.
After supper we decided to walk along the left hand side of the circle route, to a path that we knew took you down to the river.....
This is the Red River which flows through the park. You'll note that 'spring' had just barely started here...the grass was turning green and a few shrubs were leafing out, but I was actually surprised that spring wasn't more advanced ~ you'll remember from Chin Lake that the trees were all leafed out there and this is usually such a warm, in fact down right hot area.....one time we were here the army was here doing 'heat training' for troops headed to Afganistan ~ that is how hot this place normally is.
Here is the general Sagebrush type habitat, with the large Poplar trees growing closer to the river itself.
Some of the fascinatingly shaped Poplars....
Here is some more of that 'Owl Clover'
This park holds more than Dinosaur bones....it is an extremely 'birdy' place. Red-breasted Sapsuckers abound.....
Ernie found some Red-breasted Nuthatch....
In the evening...the Mule Deer came out to graze on the new grass....took this picture while standing beside our truck....
Deer, here, are very used to people, you can walk up very close to them.....
as these pictures prove....
The day ended with a bit of a sun set adding a bit of colour to some of the hills.....
another 'evening' picture.....thus ending May 1st. Bird List: Meadowlarks - could hear at least 2 calling; Robins - 14; Northern Flicker - 6; Magpies - 2; Downy Woodpecker - 2; Yellow bellied Sapsucker - 4; Canada Geese - 2; Mallard - 1; Black Cap Chickadee - 1; Yellow rump Warbler (Myrtle) - 6; White crowned Sparrows - 2; White throated Sparrows - 2; Brewer's Blackbird - 8; Starling - 4; Crow - 1; Ring neck Pheasant - at least 5 different ones calling; Ringbill Gull - 2; Prairie Falcon - 1; Northern Harrier - 1; American Kestral - 1; Killdeer - 2; House Sparrow - 6; Red breasted Nuthatch - 2; Mourning Dove - at least one calling.
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