Camping and Elk watching

This was our first  Camping experience at Sinnemahoning State Park. It being such a short distance (40 minutes) from Benezett we figured we could double up on our activities.  Early morning biking and hiking at the Park and lunch and Elk watching in the afternoon and evening.

The campsite was private and quiet and very dark after the sun went down.

Some of our early morning sightings included two immature Bald Eagles

And another one that was  a 2 to 3yr. old..  Evidence by the dusty head and tail feathers still not all white.  We also saw an Osprey hunting the First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek at the 40 Maples Day Use Area.

 The area is beautiful..   early morning renders a misty fog rising up the mountain range

First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek flows right through this area and is a prime location for wildlife.

Deer were crossing the creek and grazing in the clearings

 

 

Sinnemahoning State Park was  developed as a recreational facility after the completion of the George B. Stevenson Dam and reservoir.  Originally known as First Fork Dam constructed in 1953-55 to control flooding.

The picture everyone wants to record

 

 

 

 

My brother David, his girlfriend Rhonda and I in front of the Elk at the Elk visitors Center, Benezett

 

Our first Elk encounter was at  the the Old Bull Café -

 

An Elk Cow came into the yard with her Calf

A reasonable size Bull Elk on Winslow Hill

 



A Bull was rounding up his cows along one of the roads

 



 Emerging from  the woods another Bull Elk is on a mission to catch the cow you see below.

 

 

 A first year  Bull sporting his spikes



I get why they made  a large area at the top of Winslow hill into a parking lot and viewing area for the elk but.....I hate it.  As soon as the sun starts to dip the parking lot fills with cars and people start to gravitate to the posts set up to keep them out of the field or the rocks on the other side to wait for the emergence of the Elk herd.

It reminds me of a drive in theater....  everyone getting ready for the show.  Not photographer friendly in my opinion.

 

 

At the Woodring Farm they made a walking path that leads to a viewing platform.  This seems like a better deal than Winslow hill, but when we went there we saw nothing in the fields.

 It is however a very pretty vista.

 

 

 

A new bridge was being constructed when we were here in July and is now finished.  How apro-pro that elk are etched into the sides of it with  "Benezette" on one side and "Elk Country" on the other. Its right by the Benezett Store.

 

As we prepare to leave for another year some interesting clouds lead the way.

 

 

 Watching the sun go down after a day of elk watching...It's the perfect place to be.

 

 

To God be the Glory  ~~  Great Things He Hath Done



Overnight in Elk Country

Our first time to stay overnight in Benezett, Elk Country, PA.  

 My brother David, Rhonda and I took the camper and stayed in the Benezett Campground

 

 

We were the only ones in the campground

 

David and I walked back into the woods to the river following a horse trail looking for some wood for a fire later that night.

 

We enjoyed a blazing campfire for awhile before bedtime.  Next day at the store a man told us to

stay out of the woods and away from the river because this is a prime time for Timber Rattlesnake.  They lay in the sun on big rocks, "Maternity Rocks" he called them to energize their young who are to be born.  Well! No wonder no one is the campground!

 

 

We didn't let that put a damper on our trip....  Next morning one Elk Cow came out right by our camper.. . then 5 more arrived with their calves. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was happy to get some pictures of the calves this close.  Last year we were really far from them out in the fields.

 



 

Driving around we saw Turkey Hens with their young poults

A couple Whitetail Deer Fawns. 

Never expecting to see Bull Elk we were thrilled to come upon two who were of a respectable size.

 

 

 

 

 

The light was fading fast and it was time for us to go back to the campground.

 

To God Be The Glory  ~~  Great Things He Hath Done





Is it Thanksgiving?

No! But certainly a time to Give Thanks for the wildlife we see!
There is a flock of Turkeys that come to my yard.  Now that the hens are sitting on eggs the gobblers just wander around and eat bugs.  I see them almost every day. 

 

Sometimes before I even get up I can hear the gobble - gobble out the bedroom window

They go out back and up the hill

They spend their day looking for bugs in the grass

Now doesn't that look like "Thanksgiving" Turkey?

They are even comfortable enough to just lie down awhile and rest

 

 

My favorite picture of Turkeys so far this year.

 

To God be the Glory  ~~ Great Things He hath done

 

 

 

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A Parting Gift

We woke to clear skies and sunshine once again as if the fog was never there.  An Eastern Towhee greeted me right off the balcony of the room~~~ "Drink your tea"

Deer were grazing at the sides of the road

As we were leaving I peered into the woods and saw an ear moving and we stopped...  Saw more movement and discovered another doe with a newborn fawn.  She had him pretty well concealed but we could see her washing him and his movements through the grass.

Look closely between the two trees.

I never cease to be amazed and blessed by the  Creations of God and Nature's Beauty!!

Until next visit Shenandoah.... 

To God be the Glory  ~~  Great Things He Hath Done