Yosemite April 2018

Half Dome, our first sighting from the road
Yosemite Falls as seen from the road
Cascade blocks the trail to Mirror Lake behind the Majestic Hotel
This was the start of a walk I took to get my bearings. I turned around and set off toward the village.
Having a beer on the Majestic terrace
One can't help seeing Yosemite through Ansel Adams' eyes
Closeup of Upper Falls
Strictly for ID of a Townsend's Warbler
Steller's Jay

First close view of the falls
No problem for them!
Morning walk to meet a birding group at the Visitor Center
Yosemite Valley after a heavy rain
On our bird walk
Caleb, Anita, and Chris (is that right? my memory is not what it used to be!)
Brewer's Blackbird (female)

Cascade just behind the Majestic Hotel
Half Dome from my walk
Hundreds of trees had been recently cut down because a formerly helpful beetle turned against them.
Our birding guide, Caleb, said they think climate change caused the symbiotic disconnection between beetles and trees.
Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler
Thank you, Caleb, for the ID!
On my walk back to the Majestic
Brewer's Blackbird (male)

Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls fed by the heavy rain that caused flooding the previous day
Visitors had to leave the park the day before we arrived!
A closer look
Flood has receded but the creek is high and fast.
Mountain Chickadee
Storage tree