On May 10 we were watching the den sight from one of the Slough Road pullouts when Karen looked down and just below us was a badger! It had come out of a burrow and was laying down soaking up the sun. It gave a big yawn before settling back down.
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51175773660_537c53eb0b_k.jpg)
It then moved closer to the den and curled up almost in a ball.
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On our way in that morning we saw this black bear by the road near Vanishing Lake. We were able to pull off and get a couple of shots. The sun was very bright so the quality is not the best.
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We also were able to see some grizzlies in Lamar, but too far for a shot
Bill's Birds are Back
Last fall Bill was able to hand feed some chickadees in our backyard. Some Pine Siskins joined the party and we posted some photos of the experience in a previous trip report. After being gone several months during the worst of the winter, we wondered if the birds would remember us. At first they were a little hesitant, but the chickadees were soon back eagerly snatching seeds. Several days later a pine siskin showed up and started eating on the hand for a brief time. About a week later more birds started showing up and Bill went out to see what would happen. With seed in the feeders he wondered if they would come to him. The chickadees came right away, but soon the pine siskins overtook the show.
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A red-breasted nuthatch came in and snatched a few seeds (no photo). There were also some (purple???) finches in the yard and a couple of them joined in.
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51175459884_83f5491dad_k.jpg)
The siskins were much less tolerant of each other than they were last fall. One would land and then try to fend off all others from coming in to eat. If any others approached, it would hunker down, spread its wings and open its beak, striking anyone that would dare to land. They even held their ground against the larger finches. Soon it was pretty much chaos as birds were flying all around fighting over the seeds. One female finch landed on top of another causing it to screech. Even with using two hands the most Bill had feeding at once was four.
![Image](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51178880667_b7b4cea7b8_k.jpg)
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It's nice to know the birds remember us!