Old, New, Ouch! and Blue

I had every intention of going further south for a drive, but I ended up driving around Custer State Park again yesterday...what can I say...it's still too early to find all of the migrating spring birds...

First up, a male and female ring-necked duck on a small pond E of Custer State Park...I'm pretty sure this is a lifer for me! There were actually two pair of the ducks on the pond...

A male Mt. bluebird perched on a fence post...the bluebirds are definitely back in town...

A female Mt. bluebird was nearby, looking a bit coy...

I believe this is the first time I've found plains orophaca! The bees were loving it...

I was excited to see (moss) phlox in bloom...not so excited when I got stung by a bee while photographing some! Luckily I had a small ice pack in my lunchbox to put on it right away. Wanda, does this count as one of nature's heart shapes?!

I decided very last minute to take CSP Road #5 partway south for a look-see. I wasn't far down the dirt road before I found a small group of female bison...and, two calves! Aww, they're here! Many more to come...look close, you can see this young un's dried up umbilical cord...

Mamma, what the HECK is THAT?!

Mr. Wobbles was still a bit unsure on his legs...

The prairie dogs were out and about as usual, looking indignant at my intrusion...

A lone male pronghorn antelope enjoying the sunshine...elsewhere there were small herds, a single male with his harem...antelope calves are born later than the bison calves...

Hmm...if this bison bull has calves on the way, he's playing it cool...quietly, calmly chewing on a strand of dry grass...far from the herds of females elsewhere in the park.

...Outside of the park, heading back home, I came across this foal just as it was lying down for a midday nap near its mamma.