Revealing the Hidden Beauty of Colorado
Environment:Start Time: 6:40 AM Temperature: 59 degrees Sky: Unabated sunshine with light breeze Sightings:Birds: Mallards, Starlings, Osprey, Swallows, Barn Swallows, Mourning Doves, American Bushtit, Cormorants, Redheaded Woodpecker, Bullock’s Oriole, Northern Flicker, Flycatcher, Red-winged Blackbird, Great Horned Owl, Eastern KingbirdCritters: Cabbage Butterfly, Prairie Dogs, Squirrel, Mule Deer, Butterfly (redish) Gear: Nikon D5600, 55-300mm
Environment:Start Time: 6:35 AM Temperature: 69 degrees Sky: Cloud filtered sunshine with moderate breeze Sightings:Birds: Canada Geese, Mallards, Starlings, Osprey, Swallows, Barn Swallows, Mourning Doves, House Wren, Cormorants, Great Blue Heron, American Kestrel, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Blackbird, Blue Grosbeak, Turkey Vultures, Western Meadowlark, Redheaded WoodpeckerCritters: Cabbage Butterfly, Prairie Dogs, Squirrel, Mule Deer, Desert Stink Beetle Gear: Nikon D5600, 55-300mm
Environment:Start Time: 6:45 AM Temperature: 54 degrees Sky: Sunshine with light breeze Sightings:Birds: Canada Geese, Mallards, Starlings, Robins, Osprey, Swallows, Barn Swallows, Mourning Doves, Western Kingbirds, House Wren, Cormorants, Great Blue Heron, Northern Flicker, American KestrelCritters: Cabbage Butterfly, Prairie Dogs, Squirrel, Mule Deer, Desert Stink Beetle Gear: Nikon D5600, 55-300mm
Environment:Start Time: 6:50 AM Temperature: 64 degrees Sky: Haze and cloud filtered sunshine light breeze Clouds and haze not quite as bad as yesterday but a slightly cooler temperature made for another great morning walk. The Arkansas River is still quite high but the Geese, Mallards and a few fishermen are venturing back in. Also joining the gang were a couple of Common Mergansers one of which is today’s featured image up top. Things are still blooming – posted here is Glycyrrhiza lepidota (so says Google) that looks to be just getting started. The real highlight for the morning is…
Environment:Start Time: 6:40 AM Temperature: 66 degrees Sky: Haze and cloud filtered sunshine no breeze A layer of high thin clouds teamed up with the wildfire haze to make for some pretty ho-hum lighting conditions this morning. Walking was pleasant enough but there was not much going on today. The big excitement occurred as I was driving into the Rock Canyon area. I rounded a bend in the road and just ahead was a turtle smack in the middle of my lane. I stopped right away, put on my blinkers and got out to help Mr. Speedy to safety. He…
Environment:Start Time: 6:35 AM Temperature: 65 degrees Sky: Haze filtered sunshine few clouds little breeze Yet another hazy morning. I think we are in for a hazy Summer. Conditions were still good for walking as long as you limited your breathing. Really not a lot going on at Lake Pueblo State Park this morning. The Arkansas River, though lower than yesterday, is still pretty high – I saw few fishermen. The Canada Geese are getting back out on the water and the young ones are getting bigger fast – today’s featured image. The most cooperative bird of the day, a…
Environment:Start Time: 6:40 AM Temperature: 63 degrees Sky: Haze filtered sunshine few clouds pleasant breeze Sightings:Birds: Canada Geese, Mallards, Starlings, Robins, Common Grackle, Osprey, Swallows, Barn Swallows, Mourning Doves, Eastern Kingbirds, Bullock’s Oriole, Woodpecker, Mississippi Kite, Blue Jay, Western Kingbirds, Flycatcher, Red-winged Blackbird, American Kestrel, KilldeerCritters: Cabbage Butterfly, Prairie Dogs, Squirrel, Mule Deer Gear: Nikon D5600, 55-300mm
Environment:Start Time: 6:40 AM Temperature: 65 degrees Sky: Sunshine few clouds light breeze Another clear and sunny morning at Lake Pueblo State Park. Much less cloud cover this morning and maybe a little less wildfire haze. I was not unaware of the warmth as I walked around the park. Even at a “cool” 65, once that sunlight hits you it makes an impression. There wasn’t a lot of excitement again this trip. Only three birds even gave me a chance at a shot and all are posted here. Today’s featured image is a Hairy Woodpecker who was the hardest of…
Environment:Start Time: 6:55 AM Temperature: 65 degrees Sky: Cloud filtered sunshine with not enough breeze A basically clear morning today with only some high thin clouds and much less wildfire haze than yesterday. The downside – hot. With not many birds around the walk was a little tedious today. Which is not to say that I came home empty handed. The Arkansas River is still quite high which is probably why I caught a Mallard Couple (today’s featured image above) hanging around the calmer waters of Anticline Fishing Pond. I have been hoping to see a fawn or two running…