Denver,
Colorado area
Aug
9-10, 2001
Stormy, cold front, 40-72
An afternoon up to Mt. Evans
and a few hours at Chatfield State Park. This first page is from
the 9th, with pictures from Mt. Evans.
65 species total
Click on the thumbnail pictures for full-sized ones.
Looking west towards the mountains were massive thunderclouds, threatening
to roll down onto Denver and engulf it. The clouds were thick and
black, and an intermittent rain started up as I began my ascent into the
Rockies. Just past Idaho City, at the beginning of the uphill climb to Mt
Evans I hiked a bit along a beautiful creek, finding Black-capped
Chickadee, House Wren, and Cordilleran Flycatcher.
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Echo Lake at 10,000'
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Mallards at Echo Lake |
In the
forest surrounding Echo Lake were Calliope Hummingbird, Red-naped
Sapsucker, White-breasted &
Red-Breasted nuthatches, Mountain Chickadees, Ruby-crowned
Kinglets, Clarke's Nutcrackers, and both Stellar's and Gray Jays.
|
Bristlecone Pines
|
At the tree line were Bristlecone Pines, with their
gnarled branches and tiny needles. The only birds were
Dark-eyed Juncos and White-crowned Sparrows. From here on up
was nothing but tundra, with lots of beautiful flowers.
Earlier in the day it had hailed, and patches of it were still in
evidence. |
 
Bighorn Sheep
|
Bighorn sheep came out onto the road looking for
handouts, causing traffic to come to a dead stop. Later that
day I also spotted mountain goats, but they stayed high up off the
road..
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A variety of flowers blanketed the tundra! |
 
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Thunderclouds over the front range
At Summit Lake, elevation 12,280', I looked in vain
for Brown-capped Rosy Finch. Although I'd seen them there
several years ago, I had no luck this afternoon. I did see
many beautiful flowers and dramatic scenery. I also got
light-headed as I hiked up from the lake--the altitude really
started to effect me! |
Summit Lake
|
Water Pipit
|
The most common bird throughout the alpine country
was the American/Water Pipit. Flocks of them would flit
about, and I'd always check them out hoping to find they'd be
finches. |
| Numerous yellow-bellied marmots and pikas squeaked
and grunted from their rocky lairs; always watchful. |
The same one! |
Yellow-bellied Marmot
|
I was lucky that the
thunderclouds never dumped on me the whole time I was up on the
mountain. It provided spectacular lightning displays all
around, and up on the mountaintop it was very windy and
cold. Good thing it was August!
|
 |
Thunderclouds over
Denver
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On the way back down through Idaho City I stopped to watch a
feeder setup at a cabin along the road. Dozens of
Broad-tailed and a single Rufous Hummingbird were enjoying the
sugar water as I watched contentedly.
CHATFIELD
STATE PARK
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