Five On The Wing – #12
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Another post to add to my Five On The Wing series!
I photographed four of these birds in flight here in South Dakota, but I’ve got to include a bird species in flight from the spring so I can post this with ‘five birds’…..
Why the need to dig in my spring files? Because there is a lifer I just captured in the four South Dakota birds that needs sharing! 😁
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Male Bobolink (new lifer #234 for me 💃)
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Red-headed Woodpecker
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Belted Kingfisher (female)
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Common Nighthawk
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And my bird in flight from back home in Maryland….
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Osprey (male)
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Black Hills Bighorn Sheep Rams
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It was exciting to see a herd of bighorn sheep females and their lambs up close (shared here) during our recent Badlands NP visit, but it was a far distance on the herd of rams seen. No real chance to see those massive horns they are famous for.
Since arriving to the Black Hills region, I’ve had my eye out for bighorn sheep that also roamed here in the wild.
While out cruising on one of the scenic roads in Custer State Park, it was my husband who luckily spotted and quickly stopped for me to photograph six rams tucked in the shade and tall grass.
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Bighorn Sheep Rams
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The ram’s massive horns can weigh up to 30 pounds each for a total of 60 pounds on its head!
The horns are a general indicator of the ram’s age. The longer the horn, the older the ram.
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Bighorn Sheep Rams
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These horns play a big part during “rut” season. During these displays, two rams will run towards each other, horns first, at speeds up to 40mph, and butt heads. The sound of this collision can be heard from up to a mile away!
The ritual repeats until one ram gives up and the other wins the right to mate. This can last up to 20 hours.
Today scientists are studying bighorn sheep to try to make better football helmets.
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Grasshopper Sparrow
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After Eric locked the gate behind us departing the Frawley Ranch bison (previous post), he continued driving to take us to our car, when suddenly I saw a bird perched out my truck window.
Me being me when I see a bird of importance 😏, I shouted (hopefully not too loud! Sorry, Eric!) along the lines of “stop, can you stop…. back up…. back up…. little more….. right there!” And then me…..click click click click click!
Welcome to my bird lifer list #233 Grasshopper Sparrow! 💃
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Grasshopper Sparrow
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It became a double bonus when the little sparrow went into song!
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Grasshopper Sparrow
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Thank you, Eric, for a fabulous bison tour as well as being a champ and helping me score this lifer, you rock!
I remember hearing my husband telling Eric while he was backing up, “This is what she does to me all the time.” 😂 😘
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Frawley Ranch Bison – Up Close and Personal
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Just north of Deadwood and the Black Hills National Forest is Centennial Valley and location of the 4,750 acre Frawley Ranch (estab. 1880), the largest and most successful cattle ranch in western South Dakota.
Today Frawley Ranch is one of only two National Historic Sites in the entire state of South Dakota. (more on the interesting history of Frawley Ranch here)
Frawley Ranch provides a glimpse into pioneer life with restoration of the historical buildings and their natural environment, while incorporating modern development for the future that now includes the Elkhorn Ridge Golf Course, “Upper Ranch” Courthouse Barns venue for weddings, real estate development, and the Elkhorn Ridge RV Resort (where we’ve been camping for the past few weeks).
To add historical authenticity, Frawley Ranch includes a small herd of bison. Today the herd contains approximately 30 bison, including the calves born this past spring. The herd takes care of themselves. The ranch does provide a huge bale of hay during the harsh winters to assist their survival.
I found out we were able to take a private tour to go out to see these bison on the prairie. This would include feeding them. 😲
We met ranch hand Eric at the Courthouse Barns and climbed into a ranch vehicle for the ride. I rode in the back seat along with a five gallon bucket of bison ‘treats’.
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Frawley “Upper” Ranch Courthouse Barns (now also a wedding venue)
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Heading out onto the prairie, the herd of bison was spread out and could be seen grazing.
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Frawley Ranch bison out on the prairie
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Frawley Ranch bison
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Eric told us once the herd saw us, they would come running. Sure enough, they did!
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Bison cows and calves running after us
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They wasted no time in getting right up to our windows, looking for a treat.
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Treat please!
You have a treat for me too?
Me too!!
(sniff sniff) I smell a treat!
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My husband feeding a treat
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With their impressive size and strength, it was incredible to be up close & personal and see their gentle side. There was no aggressiveness because we did not provoke them.
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Did you know bison have blue tongues?
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Bison’s blue tongue
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The females (cows) were the first to the truck to beat the picking order. There are two bulls in the Frawley Ranch herd. We watched the massive young bull take his time meandering to the truck. All the females and calves quickly got out of the way as he approached us.
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Young Bull
Young Bull
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The young bull was getting his share of treats, but he was also getting wary of another approaching bull. The head bull of the herd.
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Head Bull “Pig” making a grand entrance
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Head Bull “Pig”
Head Bull “Pig”
Head Bull “Pig”
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Photo close-ups….bison eyes….
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“When you look a wild animal in the eye, it’s like catching a glimpse into the soul of nature itself.” — Paul Oxton
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Bison fur….
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Oh, the adorable calves! These calves (also nicknamed “red dogs” in some parts of the country) were born this past April/May….
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Little blue tongue
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This calf is a year old, born Spring 2020.
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Calf a year old, born Spring 2020
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Calf with its Mama
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Of course, all good things come to an end! Eric maneuvered the truck away from the bison for our departure.
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But we had one Mama bison and her calf that decided to escort us back, it was awesome as they ran alongside us.
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As we crested over the prairie hill to head back down to the ranch gates, the female and calf stopped and watched us. Precious!
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“We enjoyed your visit, come back again!”
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It is obvious the bison are well cared for with love and respect. And though we were in very close proximity to them, there is no real safe way to approach these dangerous wild animals. If they feel threatened, they will charge and bite.
Thank you, Eric, for your tour, it was a thrilling experience we will not forget! (Another thank you to Eric in the next post too! 😉)
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Black Hills Bison
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Custer State Park lies within the Black Hills National Forest and encompasses 71,000 of the 1.2 million acres of the forest.
Home to more than 1,400 bison, Custer State Park has one of the world’s largest publicly-owned herds. There are several dirt roads throughout to follow, including an 18-mile paved wildlife loop where it is easy to pull over to view and photograph.
I was disappointed that the only wildlife we saw on the loop were the friendly wild burro herd that roam freely here. They were way out in the distance, so we didn’t do the long hike out to them that many people were doing.
Where were those 1,400 bison that loved to block the road?
We left the loop and decided to follow and enjoy one of the several other scenic drives that run through/alongside Custer State Park. There are very few areas to pull off, the roads are very windy and twisty crazy. Almost death defying at times!
So how lucky were we to come to one of the few pull-outs to find a small herd of bison!
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Bison
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Bison
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To the left of the herd, all alone, was this herd’s impressive head bull.
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Bison Head Bull
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Here and there, we’ve continued to spot bison off in a fleeting distance, but to date no road blocks. Darn.
But I do have a surprise in my next post sharing more bison. It’s an up-close and personal experience! Did you know the bison’s tongue is blue?
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Western Meadowlark in Song
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As I walk along the trails at the back of the campground in the mornings or evenings, I can hear Western Meadowlarks calling out in the grasslands. If I’m lucky, one will take a high perch on one of the trees at the campground’s property edge and belt out a beautiful song!
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Western Meadowlark
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Black Hills Rock Climber
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While reviewing this photo I took along the Needles Scenic Highway in the Black Hills National Forest, I noticed a ‘spot’ at the top of one of the tallest rock formations.
It was a rock climber! Here, I’ll show you.
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Can you see the rock climber?
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Now can you see the rock climber?
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Ah-ha!
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Go back to my first photo, and I bet you see that spot I did! 🙂
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Black Hills National Forest
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Our venturing through and around the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota has been a wonderful adventure. It is quite gorgeous every where we drive, no matter the direction!
Here are some of my favorites from the last couple weeks taken within the Black Hills.
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The name “Black Hills” comes from the Lakota words Paha Sapa, which mean “hills that are black”. Seen from a distance, these ponderosa pine-covered hills appear black.
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It is from the surrounding prairies the Black Hills rise.
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The Black Hills National Forest straddles between western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming and consists of 1.2 million acres of forested hills and mountains.
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A peek at Sylvan Lake with dramatic sky
(I had to crop out the ugly road guardrail at bottom of shot)
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Pactola Reservoir
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Pactola Reservoir another day
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As you can see, I loved taking our scenic drives on partly cloudy days.
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I am guessing I’ll be sharing more landscape photos of the Black Hills National Forest….I’ve got one more folder that I’ve not looked at yet….and tomorrow we’re going cruising again. 🙂
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American Robins
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Whew, we’ve been on the go the last few days! I had these American Robin photos processed just before, so I’ll present those. 🙂
There’s a nice walking/biking path around the campground, and there are Robins everywhere. I liked this shot of an adult American Robin lit with the evening sun.
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American Robin (adult)
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I found this fledgling on the sidewalk part of the path.
It did not want to move and just stood there looking at me.
I took a few more steps. Still not moving…..and now giving me the dare stare. 🤨
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American Robin (teenager 😉 )
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American Robin close-up
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You should have seen me standing there talking to coax it to move on so I could pass through. 😅 Finally, it flew off!
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Series: Take A Moment and Enjoy A Sunset
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Time for a sunset! I photographed this one from the back of our campground in South Dakota.
First, the eastern clouds lit up behind me, creating a gorgeous, dramatic sky.
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As the eastern sky slowly darkened, the western sky started to blaze.
And then the sun set.
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I took this last photo walking back to our campsite. It turned out pretty cool, so I’ll add it as a bonus.
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Bay Photos by Donna 