Eventful Trip to Grey Rock

Getting a later than usual start, I was surprised at how birdy Gray Rock was this morning. I haven't been on the trail in years and didn't realize it's potential...

I was staring up at some wrens.....when I looked down, there was a beautiful red, black and white snake between my feet. We both skedaddled promptly, so sadly no photo op. (Maybe a King Snake...I have no idea.)

Up the trail a little ways, a lizard attempted to hide...

A little further along, a BLACK BEAR meandered onto the trail!

I have been hoping to see a bear in Colorado for years!!! Granted I was 

kind of thinking of seeing one across a distant meadow, not thirty feet 

down the trail.....but beggars can't be choosers, right?

The bear decided I smelled like a vegetarian, wouldn't

taste very good, and kindly

allowed me to continue on my way....

As many insects as anything else on this hike....

Grey Rock

So I noticed this nest....

in this partly-fallen tree. I noticed some wrens flitting about,

so I figured it was their nest - even though it seemed big. Eventually 

I noticed that their nest was in the same tree, but in a different spot!

A few more photos from today's trip to Gray Rock: