Al Larson Photography

The Boise river is flowing high again this spring. Reservoirs are nearly filled to capacity. Water is wasted to maintain a comfortable storage space behind the dams. Here we see water flowing out of the original outlet at Lucky Peak Dam. It’s called the rooster tail for obvious reasons. The Army Corps of Engineers open the floodgate once a year to create this spectacular view. Thousands of people flock to this site in awe to witness and photograph this rare sight. Before the power plant was installed this was the only way to release water from the reservoir. It was then a common sight. Passing motorists would have to turn on their wipers to clear the windshield of the spray over the highway.

When the cranes rise from the sandbars in the river in early morning the skies can be filled with clouds of the magnificent birds. This photo represents only a portion of the migrating flocks. Sandhill Cranes roost along many miles of the river near Kearney, Nebraska.

Tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes roost on the sandbars in the Platte River in March.

While waiting for Sandhill Cranes to come in to roost for the night we were treated to this gorgeous sunset over the Platte River near Kearney, Nebraska.

I looked out the window this rainy morning and was greeted with this scene.

 I recently visited the Bear River National Wildlife Refuge on the return trip from Kearney, Nebraska with a group of friends. The weather was threatening rain and the wind was blowing. In the scene above we find the Wahsach range capped with storm clouds.

The wind was howling and rain was falling. A group of American Avocets lines up in the lee of a tumble weed. There were large flocks of Avocets totaling perhaps 3000 individuals.

Yellow-headed Blackbirds took refuge in the tules, all facing toward the wind

 On this memorable day, my 90th birthday, the four of us had breakfast at Denny’s in Tremonton, Utah. From left to right: Bob Breen, Al Larson, Denise Hughes and Cheryl Huizinga. I ate for free since it was my birthday.

We got another 6 inches of snow the morning of March 1. I am anxiously awaiting Spring. When the ground is covered with snow like this it is hard to imagine Snow Drops blooming in the garden before the end of the month.

Winter offers many unusual sights. This ice formation hung on the eaves for hours. After a thin blanket of snow had fallen on the area it began sliding off of the roof. The air temperature was freezing and froze the snow as it slowly slid from the roof. A portion of this minature glacier is cantalevered to the main section of ice. The dark background helps dramatize the scene.

We’ve had freezing weather for several months and snow is predicted this week. Even though Winter is only half gone I’m looking foreward to Spring. This photo of blue camas was taken in May of last year just a few miles north of Ola in Gem county. May is the ideal time to take a trip to Sagehen Reservoir to see birds and wildflowers. I have been on field trips to this area nearly every year for the last forty. I have never grown tired of Nature in full bloom.

Hilda does such a wonderful job as an artist. Here she used a slab of petrified bog as a canvas. This scene shows a mournful Black Bear cub looking longingly at its mother. The cub is about to strike out on its own after being weaned and abandoned by its mother. A weasel (ermine) in winter coat looks on.