MILKWEED FANTASIES, MOONRISE AND WATER FOR THE SHEEP.

We went for a drive last night, the first one this week, and saw 23 bighorn sheep above Vaseux Lake.  Then we took a drive around the McLean Creek Road loop where we saw the large group last week.  There were even more this time with over fifty sheep.  Again there were no rams with them.  Upon leaving the sheep, I spotted a nice bed of milkweed alongside of the road so I stopped to work with them.  Such beautifully delicate seed puffs.

I was headed to bed later when I thought to take a peek at the night sky.  I noticed the glow coming over the ridge announcing the moon would soon be following so I got my camera and put my big lens on and then waited for the action to begin.

I've often wondered what the wild sheep did for water.  This is the first time I have seen them drinking from the rancher's stock waterers.  Perhaps they are left running just for the sheep?

This group of 23 had a ram with them, first ram we've seen so far this fall.

About to have a drink.

The lamb is figuring how to do it too.

Blocking traffic.

The milkweed seed pods have burst open.

Moonrise over the mountain from our porch.

Less than two minutes from the first photo to this one.  It's amazing how fast the moon rises when you have a static subject to base it on.