Sun above fog by Debra Schweitzer.
Swan Rangers looked for sun and other interesting subjects during a week of weather inversions and valley fog!
Click here or scroll down for the Rangers' photos and details!
In our lead photo, Debra Schweitzer captures the longing for the warm sun above the cold valley fog!
Keith Hammer captured a less hopeful atmosphere over Flathead Lake while . . .
. . . Norma Linsky rejoiced at seeing the sun at all, even through the trees!
Skip Via drove all the way to Glacier National Park to find it fogged in but . . .
. . . being a wise and patient man, he simply waited for the fog to burn off/lift!
With warmer air aloft, Keith Hammer shows where the already skimpy snow pack slid off the Swan Crest's sun-facing slopes . . .
. . . making it look like late Spring or early Summer!
Pam Willison found colorful lichens and moss exposed and . . .
. . . interesting marks where vegetation was springing back to attention as the snow thawed!
Pat Jaquith found colorful green in the feathers of this Wild turkey and . . .
. . . rapt(or) attention in this Prairie falcon and . . .
. . . Rough-legged hawk!
Keith Hammer found this Grouse feeding on re-exposed seeds and berries.
While looking for Great-horned owl nesting cavities, Pam Willison found this cavity occupied by a squirrel standing guard in the side door!
Pam Willison also got a photo of Canada geese and the Swan Crest, making it look more like Fall than early February!
Pam Willison got one last photo of the big Ponderosa pine snag with its Osprey nest at Beardance Trail. It was taken down after a few-day reprieve due to problems with the crane scheduled to lift it over power lines and Highway 35!
WARNING: Skip the next/last photo if you are faint of heart or stomach, it features wildlife carrion:
In our parting shot, Pam Willison's photo reminds us that not all hunting attempts are successful and can leave behind unclaimed deer and elk carcasses, which is part of why grizzly bears have learned not to go into their winter dens until after the Fall big game hunting season is well over!
If you have interesting photos of your outings, send them along with a description to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and we'll try to work them into these weekly reports!