Getting Outside

On the Photos

One of my favorite questions today: If its fun and easy, is it still legit? Also, if you compose, pick a subject matter and insert yourself in a specific location, is it yours? These questions come from the now long-running dialogue around digital modifications of photos. I love this conversation (a few years ago some photos of mine were criticized because they were beautiful, but un-pure.) I think it's a great, rich discussion. Here's some more, a photographer's take on exploring iphone photography.

As such, a series from today's hike up Deer Mountain 

in Rocky Mountain National Park:

more...

On the Day

My strategy worked! I got to the trailhead at 6:15, before sunrise and before the elk-watching hordes. (It is after all Elk Fest weekend....) Didn't see a soul 'til after the summit, and the hike did me all sorts of good. Granted I wouldn't recommend driving around Estes this weekend, but it was a beautiful day for Fall Aspen viewing and bugling.

Birds and Mammals: Juncos galore, Stellar's Jay, Pygmy and White-breasted Nuthatch, Western Bluebirds and Downy/Hairy Woodpecker. Fox, 1 million chipmunk and some tired-looking Elk.

Fall Rocks

Fall Rocks at Running Deer.

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:

Tuesday's Cranes

The sun didn't rise as brightly today, and the cranes took off fast....but the lack of sunshine made for some decent silhouette views.

I watched these two in particular, waiting for them to take off. Here they go:

A quarter or less of the group remains:

After the cranes, a quick view of the Ruddy Duck:

This afternoon, on the way into Taos; the Rio Grande Gorge:

Find the rest of Tuesday's photos here:

Monday's Cranes

We were organized enough to catch the cranes leaving their roosts in the morning - I think we'll do that each chance we get!

Then another visit to the Sand Dunes...

And a visit to Zapata Falls (Zapata very-frozen Falls)

We headed back to Monte Vista to watch the Cranes return and on the way back saw FOUR Great Horned Owls!

The Rest of Monday's Photos:

Sandhill Cranes, Part One

The drive was maybe a little long, but a lunch break in Buena Vista helped a bit... Finding some cranes once we reached Monte Vista was no problem - now we just have to be lucky enough to witness some dancing!

Present at the Monte Vista NWR this afternoon were coots, 

shovelers, and a couple of ruddy ducks

A quick visit to the Sand Dunes....a more thorough exploration scheduled tomorrow.

The rest of today's photos: