Market Lake Idaho

[timv]

Driving up to YNP/Tetons from the south on the 15 freeway takes me right thru Idaho's Market Lake. I spent the night there and then had a good group of birds to take pictures of, in the morning, before driving east into the Tetons.
Great Horned Owl


Great Horned Owl nestlings



There were a lot of Yellow Headed Blackbirds posing on great perches.


Sora



Swallows



Cinnamon Teal



I had my lens on a hawk on a pole. I was just trying to see what kind of hawk it was. It was calling out a lot, and didn't sound like a red tail.


Suddenly, a male flew in and answered her calls.



I later looked them up and determined they were Swainson Hawks.



Swainson pair



A distant Short Eared Owl was hunting the dry marsh area.



There was a second Great Horned Owl nest nearby with one chick.



The Lake provided a good warm up before heading into the parks for the larger subjects.


Tim V.

[RikWriter]

Market Lake is a pretty cool place. I need to get back there sometime.

[Dorothy]

We love that place (was it you that suggested it once? I know it was someone on this site). We tried it out and try to get back every time we head to Yellowstone, although it's not always something we can do. Thanks for the photos and the report -- we got there a week or so ago and saw quite a few things, but missed the sora (really want to see one!) and the short-eared owl (again, high on our list). Really enjoyed your report and photos.

[Nikon_nerd]

Excellent photos Tim !!

Thanks for sharing.

[RikWriter]

I went there once a few years ago. Got some great burrowing owl shots back next to that little barn down the dirt road.