Denver
Area
July
20-27, 2003
- narrated
by Henry Detwiler
101
species total (see list on Page 1)
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.
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Pine Grosbeak at Echo Lake
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A quick trip
up to Mt. Evans held more surprises.
At 10,000’-high Echo Lake I found my first Pine Grosbeak
of the year, calling plaintively.
Both yellow-rumped Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were
feeding young.
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Summit Lake at Mt. Evans -
12,000'
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Hiking around Summit Lake I stumbled upon another pair of White-tailed
Ptarmigan, and couldn’t help but take another
25 shots. The whole
tundra was alive with flowers, but the ptarmigan seemed partial to
the buttercups. I tried to snap pictures of the bird next to some of the
yellow flowers, but if I wasn’t quick, it would chomp down on
the head of the flower, and decapitate it in one smooth motion.
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Tundra Wildflowers -
Elephanthead, Rosecrown, and Stonecrop
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Baby American Pipit at Mt. Evans
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American Pipits were ubiquitous, many of them caring for
and protecting their young.
This baby stayed perfectly still, pretending to be camouflaged by
the grass.
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Some of the numerous flowers in the forest and tundra
were bluebells, elephanthead, harebells, buttercups, horsemint,
and rosecrown--a beautiful show. |
Mt. Evans meadow |
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Rich and I joined
forces once more on Saturday. He said that Trumpeter Swans are
breeding successfully in several areas around Denver. This
family was at a lake in Boulder City.
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Trumpeter Swans at
Boulder City
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Rocky Mountain
National Park
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We searched for
Three-toed Woodpeckers at a known nesting area--Endovalley Picnic
Grounds. The mixed fir &
aspen forest was beautiful, and alive with many birds. I saw
Red-napped Sapsuckers & Hairy Woodpeckers, but no Three-toed.
On the other side of the stream, Rich had one in his sights for a few minutes,
so I scrambled across a log towards him.
Alas, it had moved on when I finally got there. |
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In addition
to chickadees, nuthatches, thrushes, swallows, and flycatchers,
many varieties of mammals and butterflies shared the
park. Elk, chipmunks, marmots, squirrels, and pikas were all
common. The Phoebus Parnassian was limited to areas above the
tree line--the
Admiral was in the forest.
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Phoebus Parnassian
Weidemeyer's Admiral
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American Dipper at RMNP
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This young American
Dipper was content to fly around a bit and then sit quietly,
eyeing the stream for bugs. We never did see this one
"dip" or run along the stream bottom.
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Clark's Nutcracker
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Nutcrackers were common in the park, looking for
handouts at them more popular overlooks. It was a great visit to the Denver area, and I can't wait to get
back to the mountains! |
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Return to PAGE 1
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