This August 2026, Shar and I checked another memorable box off our bucket list when we set out to explore the Tetons, Yellowstone, and the Black Hills. Shar had never visited this remarkable part of the country, and although I had toured the Black Hills 15 years ago during Sturgis on a motorcycle, this journey offered an entirely new perspective—slower, richer, and filled with opportunities to take in the landscape through fresh eyes.
The trip lead by Karen from Tauck (Click Here for Details) was filled with unforgettable experiences: sweeping mountain vistas, peaceful floats along the Snake River, otherworldly thermal features, the energy of a rodeo, iconic mountain sculptures, unique flora and fauna and the joy of meeting new friends along the way. As many of you know, I am a novice photographer working steadily to improve my craft, and photography became one of the central joys of this adventure.
If you would like to experience our photo journey, click here where our photos are organized by day and location.
Although birding was not the primary focus of our trip, birds seemed to find us anyway—appearing at just the right moments and regularly making their way into the focal point of my lens.
In fact, Shar and I were fortunate to add two life species during the trip: a Swainson’s Hawk and a Clark’s Nutcracker.
The Clark’s Nutcracker was especially meaningful for us. While in Yellowstone National Park, we had watched a Cornell-produced video about the remarkable 30,000-year co-evolution between this bird and whitebark pines. The video explained the essential role the Clark’s Nutcracker plays in the hopeful restoration of these trees and the fragile mountain ecosystems they support across the western ranges. I encourage you to watch the video and discover the unique story it tells about this extraordinary bird.
Blog and Photos by Alan Fink
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