A Pre-Valentine's Day Lunch Date

I know I've been scarce lately...the winter blahs have settled in. I made the effort to get out for the first time in weeks, this past Wed. Where else but to Custer Park. Once I was headed down the wildlife loop, wondering if I'd see any buffalo at close range, it didn't take too long to find my first wildlife...

A doe in the snow...

Coming around a corner and down a hill I found that I needn't have worried about seeing buffalo near the road...

A herd of mostly females and their offspring, including several very pregnant females...oh the wiry, red-haired calves, I can't wait! 

This yearling is standing on the side of the road...it seems more curious than concerned...

Next were some antelope, starting with a very healthy-looking male...

A female and her youngster heading toward the road...

To lick up the rock salt...

There were 4-5 magpies in their usual area of the loop...

But the best part was when I finally stopped in a large pull-out area to eat my lunch...I was about a half-block past a small herd of buffalo, but the gap in distance was soon closed...

As the females and their yearlings, like the antelope, headed for the road to lick the salt rock up...moseying up the road as they snacked...I was soon surrounded on three sides by the herd. They were aware of me but more interested in the salty supplement.