Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: part of herd

One week ago, on 18 August 2017, I made a very last-minute decision (just after midnight) to return to this location. Last year (2016), I had finally made myself do this long drive (293 km), after longing for years to be able to get there on my own. I was determined to go again this summer, and this was the day. I left home a few minutes before 8:00 am and took the scenic back road to Highway 40. Unfortunately, we are still getting the smoke from the British Columbia and Alberta wildfires, so some distant shots are not the best. As of 19 August 2017, there were 140 wildfires currently burning across B.C., and this year's wildfire season is now officially B.C.’s worst ever wildfire season. However, the landscape on this whole drive is spectacular and I could never tire of it. I would imagine most people drive the whole loop along Highway 40, but my destination was the place where Pikas (or Rock Rabbits) live, keeping my fingers crossed that at least one of them would show up. I was in luck and saw two of them, and managed to get a few photos, though I have better photos from previous visits. While I was standing near the base of the huge talus/scree slope, I started hearing the sound of rocks falling! The first thing that flashed through my mind was that I was not standing in the best place if a rock slide happened, and then I remembered seeing someone's photo of a bear with her two cubs walking across the rocks just above where I was standing. Looking around, I could see nothing - and then, suddenly, I could just make out the tiny silhouette of a Bighorn Sheep on the very top of the ridge at the top of the scree slope, and then several others came along. They ended up passing me on a closer ridge and finally reached the road. Quite often on their descent, they would all stop and feed for a while, and one or other would stop and look back to see how everyone else was doing. What a journey they made in order to get salt off the road surface! It was interesting to watch the reaction of the drivers, too - most slowed right down or stopped, and most people stayed in their vehicles. After calling in again at Highwood House to pick up a much-needed coffee, I carried on with the drive home via various backroads, including the Priddis area. My early morning drive had given me just two birds - a Northern Harrier and some other Hawk. The return drive gave me maybe four Hawks, none of which stayed long enough for a photo. A strange, empty feeling, as two days earlier, friends and I had seen dozens of Hawks during a day's drive.

This is a photo taken in 2012, not on our most recent trip, three days ago. On this particular day four years ago, I took a number of photos of the herd of Bighorn Sheep that live on Plateau Mountain. I posted one or two other photos closer to that time, so I will copy and paste my description from that day, 13 July 2012. "On 13th July, eight of us spent the day botanizing on Plateau Mountain, Kananaskis, way south west of Calgary. We record all plant species found, and any insects, birds, etc. that we notice, gradually adding new species to the existing list. I had been there a week previously with a different group (of Lichenologists, Bryologists, etc.). The upper gate was locked on Saturday and we didn't have a key, so we had to walk from the locked gate up the road all the way to the lower meadows. This time, though, we also explored a little bit further, climbing part way up a very rocky slope. One of the absolute highlights of the trip was when we were offered the chance to be driven to the very top to see the herd of around 150 Bighorn Sheep that call the mountain "home". The man who was in charge of checking the gas plant on top of the plateau was allowed access to drive all the way up there, so we were very lucky. (Note added on 1 October 2016: more recently, the gas plant has been shut down.) A week before, I had been up there for the first time, but we only passed by the sheep and didn't get out of our vehicles. Three of us chose to go, and what a thrill it was, to have dozens of these wild animals come rushing towards the vehicle - they love to lick the salt off the truck. Apparently, they won't come near if it's just a person standing there, but they do come running over when they see a vehicle to lick. We got out of the truck and we even had a sheep or two come over and nuzzle our hands. While there, someone (thanks, David!) spotted a Hoary Marmot enjoying the shade under part of the small gas plant. I was delighted to see one of these animals - got a very distant and crummy photo, but am posting it so that I can add it to my Wild Animals of Alberta set. We were so lucky to be driven all the way back down the mountain to our cars, too, picking up the other five of us on the way. It's a tough job searching for rare plants, but someone has to do it, lol!"