RMNP Trail Ridge Road Mammals - August 6th

Yellow-bellied Marmot

There was a whole family living under the back side of the Alpine Visitor Center. I had worked my way around to scan the snowfields and a few of them would brave the rock ledge just below my feet.

Elk

There were a group of four bull Elk just off the side of old Fall River Road. I had been looking uphill at some Pine Siskins when this fellow appeared from behind the ridge grazing his way towards me.

Elk

Always memorable in the early light.

Yellow-bellied Marmot

This little guy and a few of his kin were working hard cleaning the pad where the dumpster sat.

Moose

Finally, I have been trying for a photo of a Moose for as long as I have been taking pictures of nature. I have seen Moose, and I have taken many pictures, but until I saw a group of three bulls just off the side of the road outside Grand Lake I hadn't been able to combine the two.

Moose

A good karma story. No more than 20 minutes before I had been driving along the Colorado River headwaters, and had pulled aside when I saw stopped traffic, - a sure sign of Moose. Here comes a guy with a fully extended tripod around the back of his vehicle, as a cow Moose went past the front. The guy then closed on her in the middle of the road, leaving the somewhat blind of his vehicle and I guess trying to get even closer than the few dozen feet of range he was already at. Fortunately he only chased the cow into the woods - never getting his own shot and ruining the moment for the rest of us - not to mention disturbing the Moose in her environment. Had she had a calf following her from where she had come he might have placed himself between them, and been in a real bad spot. I choked back some rage knowing that I at least respected the animal I had missed a shot of, and consoled myself with the hope that I would be rewarded in due course.
Talk about immediate gratification. Three bulls, who were doing there own thing, and not disturbed by my unobtrusive presence. I got to see their faces, (although obstructed), and he hopefully only got a blurry shot of a fleeing backside.

Moose

Again, if you have Moose in your area, or visit one that does, enjoy - but do not approach. They are massive, and while generally docile may decide to hold their ground rather than moving away as you approach.

Elk

Last shot, this Elk was at Windy Gap Reservoir. Windy Gap is a wonderful bird trap just outside Grandby, Colorado; featuring more waterfowl in one place than I had possibly seen in the previous month. Unfortunately, I was looking south at mid-day, and got a bunch of horrible shots from distance. Had it not been for this Elk I would have been disappointed, but it dashed out onto a mudflat, obviously under attack by many biting insects. As it went it couldn't resist scattering Pelicans and Cormorants that were perched along the edge, before plunging into the water itself. It swam to an island and had a good 'stick-your-tongue-out' shake before settling back in to graze. Good times.

Getting Just Desserts

Proud American Robin says, "I can hold my head high, 'cause I did the right thing when no one was looking"

On one of my very first birding walks in the fall of '08 I bumped into a local birder named Eric. We have crossed paths several times since then, but on that early trip he was one of the first active members of the birding community that I had met. As we checked the habitat around Plaster Reservoir in Broomfield his ability to locate and identify birds began to shed light on just how little I knew, and how much there was out there that I had not been experiencing. The most memorable such case was his asking if I had seen the Green-tailed Towhee in the Russian Olives we were scanning. I replied that I had, added it to my list, and on we went. Later when I was at home and reviewing some of my pictures I checked through the only guide I had at the time, "Peterson's Guide to the Birds of Western North America". As I flipped through I came to the entry for the Green-tailed Towhee, and I was instantly sure that I hadn't seen that bird. At the time I had in all good conscience thought that I knew which bird he was talking about, and that it was a Green-tailed Towhee. After I realized my mistake I adjusted my list, already knowing that marking off a bird I wasn't sure of would take away some of the reward when I actually did see and identify it at some later point.
A year and a half later the bird and I finally crossed paths once again; the species not the individual - of course.

This time I spotted it as I stood on the deck looking out behind the Beaver Visitor Center at Rocky Mountain National Park. I was looking through my camera's eyepiece - I didn't have my bins in the visitor center - but even at a distance I was confident that this was one of my long sought after targets. I honestly don't know how I missed it for all of last year. They are fairly common, at least for others, but this was my first. Let me confirm that the wait was completely worthwhile.

On a side note, if you are a local, or ever happen to visit RMNP be sure not to overlook the deck off the back of the visitor center. The wrap-around walkway raises you up into the Ponderosas and seems to keep the birds in the area comfortable as humans watch their activity.

One of the best way's to observe wildlife is in the company of children. The large herds of Elk that had descended into town with the snow were all fascinating to the eyes of a three year old.

At least pawing through snow must not be too bad when there is new sprouting grass and vegetation below.

To a child, referring to such a beast as "Antler" rather than Elk just makes sense I guess. To an adult, getting to watch a couple of males meander down the sidewalk as you crawl along shooting out the window of a vehicle was pretty cool as well.

Back to Spring

I am back from my wonderful, but wintry, trip to Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, and surrounding areas this past weekend. It was great to spend time with my family in beautiful country - and the birds weren't bad either.

For much of the trip the mornings were cold and snowy, with temperatures climbing throughout the day - only to be replaced by afternoon and overnight snow showers that would start the process over again.

The shots here were all taken within the park on Friday morning, as I drove along the entrance and Fern Lake roads before meeting with a group to participate in a ranger led birdwalk. As I arrived an inversion was holding cloud along the floor of the valley, creating an environment of 'ghost elk' (above middle), and bluebird calls from the gloom. By the time I had made it to the end of the road at the Fern Lake trailhead the sun was burning through and the branches were beginning to shed their wintry loads.

As the walk began the skies had cleared and the views west to the Continental Divide were spectacular. I hope to have many picture posts in the coming days, so that I can get turned around and ready for the Colorado Field Ornithologists convention next weekend. My totals after this trip to the high country:

2010 Count: 141

Lifetime: 218

Trail Ridge Road - Mammals

As I teased on Saturday, I started off Friday in one of the best ways I can imagine. In an exceptionally beautiful place, with a spectacular sunrise, and to top it all some pretty incredible wildlife encounters.
If you haven't been there before, or more specifically don't know that the summit of Long's Peak in Colorado is fairly large and flat, for a fourteener that is, then you probably wouldn't have guessed that my destination was Trail Ridge Road, one of, if not the best known attraction of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Elk enjoying the sunrise from "above" Long's Peak

I am thrilled that I live so close to RMNP, and can make a yearly National Parks Pass pay for itself right there. Even so, I find that I don't make it up nearly as often as I would like. It is difficult to find a window that allows for several hours of driving each way, in addition to all the time I would like to spend while I am there. To top it all off I find that I only make the trip over Trail Ridge every few years. I always plan to return more often, but then other things come up. This time I found a way to make it more manageable and so much more special. I rolled out of bed at 2:30 am. If you know me, you know that it takes a special something to get me going that early. Actually, I find that if I am getting up for something that I truly look forward to it is not as much of a problem. It also helps that before 3:00 the shower is for waking up, and the thought of shaving would just get a laugh - if that action was possible that early.

The sacrifice was so worth it, the result was a destination changer for me. I have always loved being above treeline - except for high wind days on the Timberline lift at Mary Jane Mountain. The vistas, the cool winds, the snow flakes in August, they all make me want to plan the next visit. Trail Ridge, however, can have its drawbacks. Foremost on the list is the traffic. Anyone who has made the drive knows, creeping along in stop and go traffic, even in a beautiful setting can be a drag. Beyond that, there is the reality that despite the high elevation and remote location you are moving through a tourist trap. Even so, it is worth it, but now I know it can be so much better.

Elk in velvet, contemplating breakfast

I arrived at the park around 4:00, and was up above treeline around 5:00. The sunrise was still a bit off, but there was enough light to see by. I parked and headed off along the Toll Memorial Trail. I had not hiked it in the past, but it headed up to the top of the ridge with a view to the east, it is also, I believe, near the upper limits of elevation accessed by the road. I had the place to myself! I made it out to the rocks at the end of the trail before the sun had risen, and thanks to the memorial plaque confirmed that there was a former Park Superintendent named Toll, rather than a memorial to any past tolls collected. There is a peak index at the top of the rock formation that is worth the climb to see. It identifies the peaks in the panorama around you - very cool.
I sat and watched the sun rise, as the colors painted the fleecy clouds and snow capped peaks around me. Fantastic!
Fittingly humbled by the beautiful spectacle nature had provided I descended the rock, and immediately saw a White-Tailed Ptarmigan briefly fly before landing amongst some rocks, (more on that in the bird post to come).
I clicked away, and was surprised to see a group of three teenagers approaching along the trail. I passed them to let them enjoy the views and peaks to themselves as I had done, and was immediately greeted by three male Elk crossing the trail under 100 yards ahead of me, lit by the rising sun. They slowly worked their way across the trail, and stopped at a different rock formation about midway along the trail. There they were content to stay as the trail brought me to within 35 yards of them. It was such a cool experience, solitude and in your face wildlife!

young Elk, making faces for the camera

After enjoying the views with Elk in the foreground I left them in peace and headed on to the car, and after a few stops to the area around the visitor center.

Yellow-Bellied Marmot

I have stopped at the visitor center exactly once before, typically circling a parking lot waiting for a space to open is not something I am willing to do in a natural setting. For that reason I took the very first non-handicapped space when I arrived, (take that crowds!). At this point it was nearing 7:00, and there were other cars in the lot, over near the restrooms. I checked out the overlook behind the visitor center, hoping for Rosy Finches, but finding Marmots instead. They are fun critters that just seem made to live a life of luxury in a tough habitat.

lord of the rocks - catching some rays

These guys are an easy spot, even when the crowds are present. Being there in the early hours with only a couple of park employees down below really seemed to keep this one at ease. I climbed the trail, "improved stairway", from the visitor center up to a peak overlooking Medicine Bow Curve. The marmot cruised along ahead of me, and posed for the pic in the previous post as I approached. By the time I had taken in the view and was returning he had climbed around the outcrop and was stopped to enjoy the sunshine.

Later I continued my driving tour down the west side of the road and chuckled as the weekenders were lined up at the west entrance as I left. I didn't see any Moose or Pikas on this trip, the Moose had apparently been seen along the Colorado river, but an older couple reported that some people had tried to get close to a cow and calf and they had departed. Seriously? Hopefully anyone reading this already knows how bad an idea this is, but if not let me emphasize that being anywhere near a momma moose with young is just plain stupid.

With such a great trip under my belt I am already looking forward to my next visit, hopefully this time it wont take years for me to make it back up.