Saturday, September 28, 2024

Saturday's Critters # 563

 Welcome to Saturday's Critters! Hello and Happy Saturday!


 If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!


Denali National Park limits private vehicles on the park road, visitors are only allowed to drive to mile 15 on the park road which is at the Savage River. They offer shuttle buses to the trail heads and you need reservations for the shuttle. We signed up the the Tundra Wilderness tour, so I could learn more about the park and enjoy the views of the park without worrying about driving. 

These photos were taken out the bus window, which at times were blurry due to the raindrops. Our driver told us to yell stop if we saw any wildlife, so we had lots of eyes looking for the critters.  Clicking on the image for larger views does help some. 


1. I had to book this tour back in December 2023, the tour dates fill up fast and you are given your tour time and told to be at the bus depot in the park.  The Tundra Wilderness Tour is a 5 hour tour with a certified driver-naturalist. The bus goes as far as mile 43 on the park road. The road closes at mile 43 due to a rock slide further on. 





2. Arctic Ground Squirrel was seen on the side of the road.  





3. We were able to see the Dall Sheep, the little white dots seen below lol. I had to zoom a good distance just to get this shot. The Dall Sheep live in high mountain areas. 





4. One lone Caribou sighted from the bus. 





5. Another Caribou sighting, this time 5-6 were running toward the road and in front of our tour bus. 





6. The Willow Ptarmigan were seen all along the park road. I'll have some better photos of this bird from another day and visit to the park. There are three Ptarmigans in the photo below. They are heavy bodied ground feeding birds. They are similar to the Grouse, the are brown in the summer time and turn white in the winter. They live in Denali year round. 





8. I like these windows in the bus depot, they show the Denali wildlife, the Dall Sheep, Golden Eagle, Moose, Wolves, Caribou and the Grizzly Bear. 




The next day August 3rd in Denali National Park, hubby and I drove the road to the Savage River and mile 15 of the Park Road. I will share the wildlife and birds we saw on this day on another post. 


I am linking up to Heidrun's Mosaic Monday  I hope you can stop by and visit Heidrun and check out the Mosaic Monday post.




Thanks to all my visitors and for your past and present comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves and respects wildlife. Thank you for linking up a critter post.






Here is my linky:




Thank you for sharing your critters and post!

116 comments:

  1. The requirement of seeing everything from a bus looks a bit frustrating, but you have a good collection of images here. Also, if it was raining, that would have made hiking somewhat unpleasant. What a great experience, though!
    Thank you for hosting critters… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Mae, for your critter link and your comment!
      We still enjoyed the tour, even with the rain.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  2. I would love to join a wildness tour like that...the Arctic Ground Squirrel looks super cute. Have a great weekend, Eileen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Angie, for your comment and your visit.
      The ground squirrel was cute, I love seeing all the critters.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  3. Great photos! I especially enjoyed the Caribou as we don't have them around here. Hope you are well, dear Eileen.
    Amalia
    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Amalia, for your comment and your visit.
      It was my first time seeing the Caribou.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  4. Hello. An exciting trip in Denali National Park! Thank you for sharing these photos.
    Have a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Anu, for your critter link and your comment!
      Denali is a beautiful park.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  5. That was a great tour! The wildlife photos are amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Shiju, for your critter and your comment.
      The photos would be better, the rain and bus window got in the way, lol.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  6. Awesome photos, Loved the post. Thank you so much for hosting.
    Happy weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your critter link and your comment.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  7. Thanks so much for taking us with you, Eileen, and for being the hostess we 💕 Aloha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Cloudia, for your critter link and your comment.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  8. Weekend... and time for Saturday Critters. Dear Eileen, I enjoyed walking through your post with many lovely scenes, meeting animals. A special, an eyecatch indeed is this window in the Bus stop station. I believe the visit in the park stay in remembering each Day. Thank you for sharing and for hosting.

    Have a wonderful week, greetings by Heidrun

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Heidrun, for your critter link and your comment.
      The windows were even more beautiful in person.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
    2. I believe, staying before the window is breathtaking. I know what you mean. A foto is always a capture which shows not real the World. But we enjoy and love fotos them in spite of everything. Thank you for sharing at MosaicMonday.

      Delete
    3. Yes, the photos either good or bad are great for helping me to remember all my sightings.

      Delete
  9. Hello Eileen,
    A beautiful series of photos from your Tundra Wilderness tour.
    Nice that you were able to take photos from the bus.
    I also really like the windows in the bus station.
    I wish you a good weekend.
    Greetings Irma

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Irma, for your critter link and your comment.
      It was a great tour, I just wish it was not raining.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  10. Replies
    1. Thank you Diane, for your comment and your visit.
      It is a great park to visit.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  11. Hello Eileen,
    Beautiful pictures. The Arctic Ground Squirrel is very cute. The Caribou looked very lonely. They are beautiful animals. Take care, and have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Marit, for your critter link and your comment.
      The animals are beautiful!
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  12. Hari OM
    Oooohhhh... you got special sightings - any shot to remember that by is also special! I can see the three Ptarmigan. Sorry I don't have a link today... YAM x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Yam, for your comment and your visit.
      I do have some better photos of the Ptarmigans, coming soon.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  13. Beautiful Denali National Park with their collection. The area look so peacefull with their fog. I like the Arctic Ground Squirrel that looks so cute and tiny. Greetings

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your comment and your visit.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  14. I am sure that looking at the wildlife from the confines of a bus filled with people was a little frustrating, and being subject to the driver’s control. If you had wanted to dawdle for a while and really enjoy the ptarmigans and carefully watch them feeding, and observe other behaviours, for example, you were unable to do so. Better than not seeing them at all, however.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you David, for your critter link and your comment.
      Hubby and I were happy to see the Ptarmigans from our car the next day.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  15. Passeio lindo e mesmo da janela do ônibus, tanto viram e belas fotos conseguiste!
    beijos, lindo fim de semana! chica

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Chica, for your comment and your visit.
      The tour was nice, we saw much more of the park.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  16. ...Eileen, the Arctic Ground Squirrel is a cute little critter! Thanks for hosting the party, have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Tom, for your critter link and your comment.
      The ground squirrel was cute.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  17. Willow Ptarmigan looks so unusual

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Roentare, for your critter link and your comment.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  18. You got some nice shots through the bus window. When we took the bus. we found some of the people's conversations were funny and interesting. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Bill, for your critter link and your comment.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  19. How exciting to visit Denali! It sounds like you had a great time! Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures and hosting the party! -Marci @ Old Rock Farmhouse

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Marci, for your critter link and your comment.
      Denali is a great park to visit, beautiful scenery!
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  20. Such an interesting squirrel. So different from our reds. Caribou remind me of home. Beautiful animals!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Marie, for your visit and comment. It is neat seeing the Caribou! Have a great weekend.

      Delete
  21. Replies
    1. Thank you William, for your comment and visit. Have a great weekend.

      Delete
  22. Replies
    1. Thank you for your critter link and your comment.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  23. A tour bus is a great idea in a strange location where one is unsure of where to get the best sightings. You did well with the photos, Eileen. Thanks for hosting and have a great ew week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Nick, for your critter link and your comment.
      The tour was fun and we learned a lot about the park and the wildlife.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  24. What a treat to travel in Denali National Park. Fun critters to see. Happy Saturday to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ellen, for your comment and your visit.
      It was a treat to see Denali!
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  25. I am impressed by the Arctic Squirrel. Never heard of before.
    You had a fantastic tour. Thanks for sharing.
    Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Luisella, the Arctic squirrel was new for me. Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

      Delete
  26. the Arctic is an awesome place to visit and live.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Red, Denali was a great place to visit. Have a happy weekend.

      Delete
  27. Hello Eileeen :)
    How wonderful to visit such an interesting place. The Denali National Park fills me with wonder not just because of the landscape but the wildlife is all new to me too. I like the beautiful ceiling and windows decorated with the wild creatures that live in the park and I hope you are lucky enough to see them during your visit.
    All the best and thank you for hosing Eileen :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sonjia, for your link and comment. Denali park is beautiful, I do love all our national parks. I thought the windows were pretty and I loved seeing the wildlife. Take care, enjoy your day and happy weekend.

      Delete
  28. Lots of new critters in this post, Eileen. The Arctic Ground Squirrel will make Genghis bark, so I didn't show him :) Loved every picture and thank you so much for hosting and sharing. Be well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your critter link and your comment.
      They were new critters for me too.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  29. A bus is probably the best way to view such an area. Love that squirrel, Eileen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your critter link and your comment.
      Yes, the tour was the best options. The tour or a shuttle was the only choice, no cars are allowed to drive further into the park. Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  30. It must have been amazing Eileen and you got some great sightings. The scenery is stunning! Also, those windows in the bus depot are impressive, beautiful Thank you very much for sharing all that you saw. I am looking forward to your next post. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Denise, for your comment and your visit.
      The scenery in the park was beautiful..
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  31. Great photos of the critters you saw. I would love to see Dall Sheep and Caribou in the wild.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Yogi, for your critter link and your comment.
      The Dall sheep and Caribou were new to me.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  32. this sounds like a wonderful tour to take. a bus may not be optimum for pictures but it is a joy to be driven, and just enjoy all the beautiful wildlife!! awesome captures, i bet you really enjoyed seeing the caribou!! many thanks for hosting enjoy the weekend...although you are probably getting the same rain we are!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Debbie, the tour was nice and the wildlife sightings and scenery were wonderful. I appreciate your link and comment. Have a great weekend.

      Delete
  33. It must have been so much fun to be there! I want to look at these later on computer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Rose, for your comment and your visit.
      It is always fun to explore new place, the park was beautiful.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy week ahead.

      Delete
  34. A great sounding tour with lots of different critters to see and photograph.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Karen, for your comment and your visit.
      I do love seeing the critters.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy week ahead.

      Delete
  35. Replies
    1. Thank you Linda, for your critter link and your comment.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy week ahead.

      Delete
  36. How wonderful and interesting! You got some great photos of there too.

    -Soma

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Soma, for your comment and your visit.
      Take care, have a great day and a happy week ahead.

      Delete
  37. Me ha encantado acompañarte, en ese recorrido virtual y disfrutar de las imágenes de los animales que aparecen en ese buen recorrido.
    Que tengas una buena semana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your visit and comment. Take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  38. By limiting private vehicles on the road, that part of the park can remain wild. Lucky you for securing the seats on the bus and being able to see the wildlife that you did! They are treasured sightings!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Alexandra, for your critter link and your comment. Yes, I was lucky to grab a couple of seats on the tour bus, they fill up fast. Take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  39. The Caribou is a really neat sighting! The big animals really blend in to the land they are on. You had a great way to see so much! Thanks for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Diane, for your critter link and your comment. Yes, I was happy to see the caribou, a new critter for me. Take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  40. Wow! ~ What a place and awesome nature photography ~ you go the best places and take great photos ~ hugs,

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
    clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Carol, for your link and comment! Take care, enjoy your day and have a great week ahead.

      Delete
  41. Hi Eileen!! Wow! Alaska... Fantastic place with wonderful nature... Take care.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ana, for your comment! Take care, enjoy your day and have a great week ahead.

      Delete
  42. I'm grateful for the beautiful photos of the fauna
    in this vast and surprising Alaskan park.
    🥳 💛🌻🤗
    I have an invitation for you...
    I would be happy if you participated...
    https://avivenciaravida.blogspot.com/
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your visit and comment. Take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  43. Hi Eileen! I've really missed your posts and photos like these. I always enjoy them, each one tells a story of a fun adventure!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Kim, for your visit and comment. Take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  44. Eileen - we hope to visit Denali sometime, so this is helpful information! Love the photos of the caribou. And the Ptarmigan! The grouse in Montana hang out along roads/trails - I suspect they are picking up small pebbles to help with digestion, but I don't know that for sure! Have a great week ahead!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Angie, for your visit and comment.
      I have seen the birds eating the gravel or dirt, it must help their digestion.
      Take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  45. Wonderful sights and photographs Eileen Thanks for hositng and commenting and have a great week ahead

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Margaret, for your link and comment. Take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  46. Thank you for sharing this gorgeous tour!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your link and comment. Take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  47. It looks wet and damp! It must have been nice to spot critters from a warm bus.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I was happy to be on the bus and out of the rain. Thanks so much for your link and comment. Take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  48. HI Eileen- Can you believe it is the last few days of September? I loved seeing the spotted fur on the artic squirrel. We sometimes see Bighorn sheep in our Rockies, Have a good week ahead!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Pat, for your visit and comment. Wishing you a happy month of October. Take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  49. The excitement must build as you have to book so far in advance, but lovely to be driven so you can concentrate of wildlife spotting, looks a lovely visit. I cant wait to see the photos when you self drive in for 15 kms too. Have a great week Eileen.
    Wren x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Wren, for your visit and comment.
      Yes, there are good and bad things about not be able to drive yourself.
      Take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  50. Un gusto venir a verte. Preciosas fotos. Gracias
    Buen octubre Eileen.
    Un abrazo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Laura, I appreciate your visit and comment. Happy October to you! Take care, enjoy your day and have a great week ahead.

      Delete
  51. Hello, Eileen. At last I’m back to blogging and catching up. The photo on the header is fantastic, I really love it. I like bus tour as we can concentrate on looking around the passing-by scenery. The Arctic Ground Squirrel doesn’t look being shot from the bus. Have happy days ahead.
    Yoko

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Yoko , for your comment and visit. It is nice to see you back blogging, I hope you enjoyed your break. Your right the bus driver/guide took the squirrel photo and put it on the viewing screens on the bus. Take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  52. never seen Arctic Ground Squirrel in nature.... look so cute.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your visit and comment. It was a new critter for me, it is cute. Happy October, take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  53. Hello Eileen
    Many thanks for sharing your photographs.
    I did like seeing the Arctic Ground Squirrel.

    I hope the week has started well for you, and wish you a happy new month of October.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy October Jan! Thanks for visiting and for the comment! Take care, have a wonderful day and week ahead.

      Delete
  54. Looks like you had an awesome time in Denali!
    Love the pics of the Arctic Ground Squirrel and Dall Sheep.
    How exciting to see all that wildlife on the tour!

    Happy Tuesday, Eileen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Veronica, for your link and comment. The tour was fun, we saw so much more of the park. Take care, have a wonderful week!

      Delete
  55. Alaska!! Such wonderful memories. Thanks for helping me to re-live them through your (better than mine) pictures! I remember seeing caribou and ptarmigan. Thanks so much for hosting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sallie, I was excited to see the Alaska wildlife. The Ptarmigans were a lifer for me. Take care, have a wonderful day!

      Delete
  56. Muy bonitas e interesantes tus fotografías, me ha gustado mucho ver esos animales. Besos.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Teresa, I do love seeing all the wildlife! Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.

      Delete
  57. So many unique and interesting animals up there. Love seeing them. We were not able to take that bus trip when we were up there, but we did see plenty of wildlife.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the comment and visit! The bus tour was worth it, to see more of the park. We would never be in the area again so we wanted to see as much as we could. Have a great weekend.

      Delete

Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

BTW, Anonymous comments unless a name is included will not be published. Also, comments with links will be deleted.

Have a happy day, Eileen

Saturday's Critters # 564

  Welcome to Saturday's Critters!  Hello and Happy Saturday!  If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about ...