Cliff swallows will build their nests seemingly anywhere.

So, after all that driving and finally getting situated at our campsite (a hassle in itself, after Xanterra promised we'd have two sites together and instead the park service put us at complete opposite ends of the campground), I was going to let everyone sleep in our first morning, right?

Ha.

The alarm went off at 5:30, and we were off to the Lamar Valley. There wasn't all that much activity this morning. A number of pronghorn and bison, most a fair distance from the road. We stopped at Soda Butte, which didn't seem to interest anyone in my group, and Round Prairie (the site of my Druid wolf encounter with Willem... but that was also quiet). On the way back, we stopped at the big parking lot that has a facility. It's kind of a fun stop in the summer, as the swallows always build their nests right on the underside of the roof.

It seems like billions of ground squirrels are out this time of year as well, including the suicidal ones that line the road.

The lazy drive back through Lamar didn't produce much else. We did stop briefly at a pullout where some folks had scopes out. No wolves visible, but there were two yearling grizzlies in the hills high across the valley, and above them a grizz sow with a cub. Our bear count was swelling rapidly.

Moseying through Little America, we finally spotted some pronghorns near the road.

A small group of young males and a few females, with two older males. The young males, even with wee little horn stubs, were already practicing their sparring. Suddenly, the two older males started going at it! I've seen bison sparring, but I've never witnessed antelope dueling. The clash of horns went on for several minutes.

Interestingly enough, the male who was obviously bigger and stronger was being pushed around by his younger rival early on. My friend got a great pic as the big male was being pushed back and hopping around on his hind legs for another go-around (wish I had it to post here). Soon though, this incredible sequence came to an end. The big male decided to stop fooling around and quickly drove his opponent into the ground a couple times, before chasing him off with a loud bleating sound.

Male pronghorns butted heads in Little America.

As this group retreated across the road, we stuck around in hopes of seeing another pronhorn foursome approach. This group featured two babies, who cautiously approached the road, before making a made dash and hopping in leaps and bounds across the pavement to the safety of the open brush.

On the way south, we stopped along the slopes overlooking Antelope Flats, which were crowded the entire week with grizz/wolf watchers. In this case, everyone was honing in on a big grizzly out in the meadows. As I borrowed a peek through someone's scope, a wolf suddenly came into view. This lone black wolf proceeded to try to play with and harrass the grizzly for at least the next half hour. Two bear/wolf interactions in two days. Not bad!

It was still mid-morning, so we continued to the Grand Canyon, visting the various waterfall overlooks. The mist rising up from the falls combined with the sun's rays peeking through the trees for a surreal environment.

On to Hayden, where the bison are usually the main show. They didn't disappoint, with plenty of frolicking red dogs scattered throughout the herd (one friend's comment: "those are red dogs?!").

Halfway through the valley, our progress was slowed... sure enough, another bear jam. This time a grizz, who had dashed into a creek before pulling himself out and digging around for food. He looked to be 2-3 years old, still not too big, but an impressive sight nonetheless for someone who's never had an opportunity to view Yellowstone's grizzlies very closely.

This grizz chased pelicans and cooled off in the Yellowstone River.

The crowd followed him for an hour or so, and I kept waiting for him to get closer. Our second carload was getting impatient and wanted to head back to camp for lunch. They took off and we decided to pack it in, but at the last moment, I told my friends to go get the car and pick me up. I didn't want to miss anything that might happen.

Good decision. The bear finally decided to head toward the road, where he crossed mere feet from the parked cars and tourists.

Slowly, he made his way down toward the river. I saw my friends had returned with the car, but were out watching the action again. Our second carload had gone back to camp and was once again missing the best part of the action. Patience pays!

As the grizz worked his way along the short slope to the river, a small group of pelicans floated into view. They seemed almost curious about the bear, and kept floating back and forth near shore. Suddenly, the grizz spotted them and bounded toward the river. As the pelicans floated away nonchalantly, the bear stood out on the bank, sniffing and gauging his distance, perhaps measuring whether he had any shot whatsoever at snatching a feathery meal.

I think he realized it was fruitless, as he went back to digging apart big chunks of the shoreline, searching perhaps for rodents who may have made their homes near the river bank.

At last, the moment we all seemed to be waiting for... the grizz waded into the river. He danced around a few times on his hind legs, maybe spotting a fish or two, but more than anything it just seemed like a soothing bath.

He didn't stay in for long, climbed out and didn't even bother to shake himself off. It was as though he suddenly realized the audience that was watching him, and he disappeared around the corner, receiving applause from all of the folks who had witnessed the spectacle.

The second half of our day was low-key. Stopped at Mud Volcano and some of the other thermals south of Hayden. One of our group is a science teacher, so he was pretty interested in some these features, and enjoyed filling us in on the some the physics and chemistry that makes the thermals do what they do.

We made it as far south as Fishing Bridge, where I sought out my favorite pelicans. They were there again, reliable as clockwork, though not as close to the shore as last year. I set up and got a few shots as the magnificent birds flew upriver toward us, seeking the spawning trout that attract them to this area.

Pelicans are a common sight near Fishing Bridge in late June.

A beaver swam right under the bridge beneath us while we watched. Naturally, my batteries ran out at this moment, so I missed the shot as it glided downriver with a large leafy branch in its maw. On the way back to the car, one of my friends gave a small scream and pointed. Another beaver was mere feet away from us, munching on grass without a care in the world. He kept working on his dinner while we managed to snap a few photos... Meanwhile, a muskrat swam by, looking a bit like a baby beaver actually, and soon, the beaver moved on. It was time for us to return to camp. Yet another wild day in Yellowstone.