Sarah Lynn's Nature's Splendor: Photos: from Mammoth Hot Springs to Yellowstone Lake

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Photos: from Mammoth Hot Springs to Yellowstone Lake

Herd of elk in Mammoth Hot Springs

Rustic Falls

As we drove south from Mammoth Hot Springs, we stopped at the side of the road to get some apples from the cooler, and to open a bag of honey mustard and onion pretzel pieces.

Larry had not yet gotten back into the Jeep when a raven landed beside him, tipping his head and looking up at him beseechingly. He had obviously heard the sound of the pretzel bag, and knew that meant food.

I obligingly tossed him a few pieces, and he skillfully caught almost every one in his big, strong beak.

A car approached on the nearby highway, and the raven scurried around to the other side of the open car door to hide. As soon as the car passed, he strut-hopped back into position – and when we laughed, he made a small crying noise of protest.

After a few pieces of pretzel, we got stingy and decided we wanted the rest of our food. I began peeling apples.

The raven flew off, and alighted nearby in a tall pine, making loud, low-pitched raucous calls, which soon drew in his mate, who was a little more skittish than he was. They soared back down to the Jeep, landing on my side this time.

I tossed out an apple peel, making the female jump back a few steps.

The male checked it out, peered up at me in reproach, and squawked. He wanted pretzel pieces, not apple peels. Just look how entirely disgusted he looks.

I tossed out apple cores, which didn’t impress him any more than the peels had done.

The female, however, waited until she thought I wasn’t looking, then, warily sashayed closer, snatched a long curl of peel, and retreated to eat it. She hadn’t spoilt her appetite with pretzels, after all!

When the male saw that no more pretzels were forthcoming, and the apple cores and peels were disappearing too, he decided not to be so picky after all, and gobbled down a few bites. He sure gave me a look, though.