Did He Who Made the Lamb~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life136 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge)

Notice the kids having a frolic on their own?

Not a chance! Clever Mama keeps a covert eye.

It’s best to let them think they’re independent!

The human interloper is quite a curious sight,

even the tiny tots,

pause,

to take,

a peek.

The teenagers have more freedom,

but the herd of ewes and lambs,

always stay together.

Cheers to you from The Southwest Desert Mountain Sheep~

Note: Desert Bighorn Sheep are a sub-species of Big Horn Sheep adapted to desert life. They are a federally designated endangered species.

Big Horn Welcoming Committee~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life134 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge)

Near the Amagarosa Mountain Range Nevada.

Traveling now,

but will catch up soon.

Spent a good chunk of time with these beauties,

and their irresistible,

lambs.

Desert Big Horn Sheep are considered sensitive to extinction in the Southwest.

Beyond thrilling to hang with this herd.

The rain continues and they are healthy!

Cheers to you from The Southwest Desert Big Horns~

Snow on the Summit: Salt on the Shore~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS169 Comments

(Click/Tap to enlarge for perspective)

Despite Death Valley National Park in California holding the record for being the hottest place on earth at 134F, it also has an ancient lake named Lake Manly that appears rarely after excessive and prolonged rainfall.

The rains caused by 2023’s El Nino event formed the lake last year. The continuation of El Nino rains into 2024 have enabled it to remain and grow, a very rare phenomona. Usually rainfall evaporates in the dessicated desert long before it has a chance to collect.

Here is the lake in March of 2024, with snowy summits,

and salty shores.

Rain is continuing to fall in the desert which is remarkable.

The lake is much, much larger than I expected, approximately 6 miles long and 3 miles wide in places.

Lake Manly is a remnant of an ancient ocean,

and is four x’s saltier than seawater.

It lies in Badwater Basin,

the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level.

Maybe the lake will last until next year which would truly be extraordinary.

Cheers to you from lovely Lake Manly~

Greeting Committee (Tap to Enlarge)~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life217 Comments

We are here at Death Valley National Park because the snow and precipitation in California for the past two years has been unprecedented and we wanted to see the wildflower super bloom in the hottest place on earth. We also wanted to see Lake Manly, the ancient lake in Death Valley that only rarely fills during strong El Nino events. We are seeing both of these amazing wonders, but before I show you, we have to acknowledge and thank, ‘The Official Death Valley Greeting Committe.’ (Members are wild and all volunteer, I should add!)

Here is one wild burro diligently performing her greeting duties. No food was exchanged in any of these interactions. Pats and pets, yes, but not by me.

The wild burros are just very friendly critters. I try to keep safe distance from wild creatures, no matter how friendly, which was hard because they kept coming towards me for a pat.

Last time we were here we searched forever to find the wild burros and almost gave up, until we finally found them. I had never seen them before. Here is the post I did about them:

Death Valley’s Wild Burros~

This time, they seemed to be waiting by the roadside to say, “Hello!”

Wild burros,

are winsome creatures.

Playful and affectionate with each other,

and welcoming to humans,

who are respectful towards them.

Cheers to you from Death Valley’s beautiful wild burros~

Snow Geese~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life244 Comments

A massive flock of Snow Geese spooked by a Harrier Hawk (tap to enlarge to see the hawk in the upper right corner),

take to the air at The Salton Sea in Southern California.

Wile E. Coyote hiding, patiently watching and waiting,

finally makes his move,

causing the settling geese,

to panic once again,

and take to flight en masse.

The din is overwhelming as they fly directly around you,

and feathers float like snow.

When Wile E. gives up, the weary geese settle once again.

Soon they will begin their long migration north.

It is not easy being a Snow Goose,

but at least they have a lot of friends! (click to enlarge)

Cheers to you from the vacationing geese at The Salton Sea~

One Man’s Drain is Another Owl’s Castle~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life269 Comments

Burrowing Owls are a species of special concern and are disappearing in Southern California.

The species is listed as threatened in Mexico,

and endangered in Canada.

It is rare to see them in Southern California as their ecosystems have been goobled up by development.

See: https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/western-burrowing-owl-southern-california-disappearing-threatened

These burrowing owls are protected at The Salton Sea Nature Preserve in Southern California.

The preserve sets up multiple drain pipes for the owls to shelter in from predators and marks them with signage to keep humans from bothering them.

It is always a major thrill when these tiny owls (they are only 9 inches high) decide to come out of hiding and people watch!

Cheers to you from the wonderful Burrowing Owls at The Salton Sea~

Sandhills at The Salton Sea~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life234 Comments

With all their birdie buddies!

The heavy rains have filled the seas making happy and healthy birdies (click to enlarge).

The Sandhill Cranes have flown here en masse,

to take advantage of the bounty.

This is the first time they have allowed me close enough to get decent photos.

Sandhills are big birdies,

standing up to 4 1/2′ tall when fully extended,

They winter in the Salton Sea,

and head north soon,

to breed.

I have seen them doing their mating dances,

in the far Arctic.

Sorry to be out of touch. We are traveling, and wifi is unreliable.

Cheers to you for the wintering Sandhill Cranes~